US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is facing an attempt to remove him from office through impeachment, with allegations ranging from abuse of executive power to launching military action against Iran without an imminent threat or congressional authorisation.
The effort, initiated by Republican Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky, could bring an unusual political battle to Capitol Hill. Massie introduced eight articles of impeachment against Hegseth, setting the stage for a potentially contentious vote in the House of Representatives.
Hegseth has rejected the allegations, while President Donald Trump has made clear that he intends to support his Defense Secretary.
But how does the impeachment process work, and what would it take to force Hegseth out of office?
How the Impeachment Process Begins in the House
Massie’s resolution outlines eight grounds for impeaching Hegseth. Under the US Constitution, federal officials can be impeached for treason, bribery or other high crimes and misdemeanors.
Although the Constitution does not provide a precise definition of the latter category, the phrase has traditionally covered serious abuses of authority, misconduct and breaches of public trust.
The House of Representatives, which has 435 members, needs only a simple majority to approve impeachment.
However, Republican leaders are expected to make an initial attempt to stop the resolution through procedural manoeuvres. They could seek to end the matter without a debate or send it to a committee for further examination.
Both options require a simple majority.
Republicans currently hold a narrow 218-214 advantage in the chamber. If their efforts to block the resolution fail, lawmakers could proceed to a vote on whether Hegseth should be impeached.
What Happens If the House Approves Impeachment?
A successful House vote would not automatically remove Hegseth from his position.
Impeachment is essentially the formal presentation of charges, rather than a final determination of guilt. The matter would then move to the Senate, which would decide whether to dismiss the allegations or conduct a trial.
During the proceedings, members of the House would present the case against Hegseth, while senators would hear the arguments and examine the evidence in the role of jurors.
The Senate currently has 53 Republicans and 47 Democrats.
Removing Hegseth would require a two-thirds majority among senators present. If that threshold is reached, he would immediately lose his position.
However, the Senate could also bring the proceedings to an end by voting to dismiss the charges before reaching a conviction decision. Such a move would require only a simple majority.
Can Hegseth Actually Be Impeached?
The House vote could become a serious challenge for Hegseth, particularly if Democrats remain united behind the resolution.
A conviction in the Senate, however, appears considerably less likely given the Republican majority in the chamber.
The political calendar could also play an important role.
Republicans are scheduled to retain control of both chambers of Congress until January 3, 2027, when Democrats are set to take over.
Massie’s impeachment resolution will expire on that date if the House has not voted on its substance. Massie, who lost his primary election and will not return to Congress next year, would therefore need another lawmaker to introduce fresh impeachment articles if the proposal remains pending.
There is, however, a significant distinction if the House approves impeachment before the current Congress ends.
In that situation, the proceedings would remain alive beyond January 3, allowing the Senate to take up the case next year, when Democrats control both chambers. That political shift could change the dynamics of any potential trial.
Hegseth Would Join a Very Short List of Impeached Cabinet Officials
Impeachment is not limited to presidents. The Constitution also allows the vice president and other civil officers of the federal government to face the process, a category understood to include senior government officials and federal judges.
If Massie’s resolution succeeds, Hegseth would become only the third Cabinet secretary in American history to be impeached.
The previous cases provide an indication of how unusual such proceedings are.
In 2024, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas was impeached over allegations linked to the Biden administration’s handling of the US-Mexico border. The Senate subsequently dismissed the charges, preventing a full trial.
Earlier, in 1876, William Belknap, who served as Secretary of War under President Ulysses S. Grant, faced impeachment over corruption allegations. The proceedings came shortly after he resigned from office. He was ultimately acquitted by the Senate.
President Donald Trump has also faced impeachment twice.
The first came in December 2019, following allegations that he pressured Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden. The Senate acquitted him in February 2020.
His second impeachment followed the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol, when he was accused of inciting an insurrection. The Senate again voted against conviction, although seven Republican senators joined Democrats in supporting it.
For Hegseth, the immediate battle is whether the House will formally approve the charges. Even if that hurdle is crossed, removal from office would require a far more difficult political and constitutional test in the Senate.
