Republican lawmaker moves to impeach US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth

A Republican member of the US House of Representatives has moved to impeach Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, accusing him of violating constitutional limits on the use of military force. Thomas Massie read articles of impeachment in the House on Tuesday, setting up a long-shot effort in a chamber controlled by Republicans. The move centres on criticism of US military actions, including the war on Iran, and on allegations that Hegseth has shown disregard for civilian harm.

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Massie said Hegseth had waged war without congressional approval, carried out extrajudicial killings and paid little attention to civilian casualties in military operations. He said the defence secretary had abused the powers of his office by subordinating constitutional limits and the laws of armed conflict to his own policy goals. Massie also accused Hegseth of showing a profound disregard for the impact of US military operations on civilians.

The resolution could come to a vote in the coming days, but it faces steep odds in the Republican-majority House. The Pentagon responded by saying the department was unified behind Hegseth's vision and would continue working to put warfighters and America first. Hegseth has already faced criticism over the US-Israel war on Iran and over past remarks dismissing protections intended to reduce civilian casualties and ensure compliance with the law by US forces.

Those remarks, described by critics as hostile to established rules of engagement, have become part of the wider political dispute surrounding his tenure. The impeachment push matters because it touches on the balance of power between Congress and the executive branch over war-making authority. It also reflects a broader argument inside the Republican Party over foreign policy, with some figures increasingly critical of interventionist approaches.

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While polls show most Republicans support the war on Iran, a small number of prominent voices on the political right have broken with that position and questioned the administration's direction. Massie has been one of the most outspoken critics of the Trump administration's approach to Iran and overseas military interventions. He has also clashed with President Donald Trump before, including over efforts to force the release of the Epstein files.

Trump previously attacked Massie over his opposition to the war on Iran, and Massie lost his primary election in May to a Trump-backed challenger after heavy spending by pro-Israel groups. That political backdrop adds to the significance of the impeachment effort, even though its prospects remain limited. What happens next will depend on whether House leaders allow the resolution to advance and whether any additional Republicans break ranks.

It remains unclear how much support the articles of impeachment will attract, or whether they will reach a floor vote at all. For now, the move is best understood as a formal challenge to Hegseth's conduct and to the administration's war powers, rather than as a likely path to removal.

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