US Congress Returns to Washington as Impeachment Vote Looms Over Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth

A Republican congressman is preparing to force a vote this week to impeach US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, adding to the political turmoil facing President Donald Trump following the Republicans' crushing midterm election defeat.

The US Congress has returned to Washington in a dramatically changed political landscape after Democrats delivered a major defeat to Republicans in last week's midterm elections.

The result has set the stage for a turbulent final period of the current Republican-controlled Congress, with lawmakers facing just six weeks to complete outstanding business before Democrats take control on 3 January 2027.

One of the biggest issues expected to dominate proceedings is the growing threat of impeachment against Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth.

Republican Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky intends to force a vote in the House of Representatives this week, accusing Hegseth of violating the US Constitution through his involvement in military action against Iran without congressional authorisation.

Republican congressman pushes for Hegseth impeachment

Massie has argued that the Defence Secretary should be held accountable for allowing American military involvement in Iran to continue beyond 90 days without approval from Congress.

He said: "By engaging in hostilities in Iran for more than 90 days without congressional authorization, Secretary Hegseth is breaking the law and must be held accountable."

The congressman first introduced articles of impeachment against Hegseth in September and is now pushing for a formal vote following the Republican Party's losses in both chambers of Congress.

Massie, who lost his re-election bid earlier this year, has become one of the few Republicans willing to openly challenge Trump and his administration over the conflict with Iran.

He has also suggested his attempt to remove Hegseth is intended to prevent Democrats from turning the issue into a much larger political battle when they take control next year.

Massie described his proposal as a gentler alternative to what he believes will follow when Democrats assume control of Congress.

He warned that Democrats would likely organise hearings and impeachment proceedings of their own.

The Kentucky Republican has urged Trump to replace Hegseth while Republicans still have the opportunity to secure confirmation of a successor through the Senate.

Hegseth dismisses impeachment threat

Hegseth has played down the prospect of impeachment, insisting he is not concerned about Massie's plans.

Speaking to reporters on Monday, he said: "We're not worried about that."

He confirmed that he would hold a news conference on Tuesday morning to address the issue.

The appearance will be his first news conference since May, more than six months ago.

The Defence Secretary is expected to face questions about the proposed impeachment resolution, his leadership at the Pentagon and the continuing controversy surrounding American military involvement in Iran.

House vote could happen within days

Once Massie formally introduces his resolution, expected later on Monday, House Speaker Mike Johnson will be required to schedule consideration of the proposal within two days.

Lawmakers will have several options.

They can vote directly on the impeachment resolution, refer it to a committee for further consideration or vote to set it aside.

Although Massie is expected to receive support from Democrats, he will need to persuade members of his own Republican Party if the measure is to gain significant backing.

Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries has already indicated his support, describing himself as a firm supporter of impeachment.

However, Republicans will remain in control of Congress until January, making the immediate prospects of success uncertain.

Impeaching a cabinet secretary is extremely rare

Removing a cabinet secretary through impeachment is an unusual step in American political history.

The House of Representatives has voted to impeach only two cabinet members previously, and the Senate did not agree to remove either of them.

For Hegseth to be removed through impeachment, the process would need approval from both chambers of Congress.

The current political balance makes that outcome unlikely, but the vote could still create serious embarrassment for the Trump administration.

Massie has also criticised Hegseth over issues beyond the Iran conflict.

In his statement, he accused the Defence Secretary of intimidating critics of the administration, kidnapping foreign leaders and disregarding congressional resolutions concerning presidential war powers.

These are allegations made by Massie and have not been established as findings of wrongdoing.

Iran war creates divisions within Republican Party

The dispute over Hegseth comes amid growing Republican criticism of the administration's handling of the Iran war.

Congress has repeatedly passed War Powers resolutions seeking to restrict further military action by Trump in Iran, with Massie supporting those efforts.

Hegseth, however, defended the conflict on Monday, maintaining that the military action was necessary despite its unpopularity.

The disagreement has become particularly damaging for Republicans following their midterm election defeat, with some within the party blaming the Iran conflict for contributing to the result.

Trump faces a difficult political reset

The President has also been reflecting on the election outcome.

In his first major interview since the midterms, Trump suggested his administration's deportation policy "might have been too tough" for some voters.

He indicated that he believed an agreement with Democrats on immigration could be possible once the new Congress takes office.

However, his subsequent decision to appoint Stephen Miller, a key architect of his hard-line immigration agenda, as his new chief of staff has raised questions about whether a genuine change in direction is coming.

With Republicans losing control of both the House and Senate, Trump faces an increasingly challenging political environment.

The next six weeks could be crucial in determining how much of the Republican agenda can be completed before the balance of power changes in January.

The Real Terryo Daily Round-Up Says

The growing confrontation between Thomas Massie and Pete Hegseth highlights the divisions now emerging within the Republican Party.

It is particularly significant that the push to impeach a senior member of Trump's administration is coming from within the President's own party.

Massie's argument centres on congressional authority over military action and whether the administration has exceeded its constitutional powers by continuing hostilities in Iran without congressional approval.

Even if the impeachment effort fails, the debate could create serious political problems for Trump and his Defence Secretary.

Hegseth's dismissal of the threat may suggest confidence, but the prospect of a formal vote means he will have to answer questions publicly about his decisions and leadership.

With Democrats preparing to take control of Congress, the Trump administration could face much tougher scrutiny in 2027.

The coming days will show whether Republican lawmakers are prepared to challenge their own administration or whether party loyalty will prevail as the impeachment vote approaches.

This article has been independently written for the Real Terryo Daily Round-Up using the information supplied for this report. Allegations made against individuals are presented as claims and have not been treated as established findings.