Rep. Thomas Massie introduces measure to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth

Karla Ward, Lexington Herald-Leader on Sep 15, 2026

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U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie has introduced articles of impeachment against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

Massie read the articles of impeachment on the House floor Tuesday, saying Hegseth had violated the War Powers Resolution by going to war with Iran without approval from Congress.

He said Hegseth “has demonstrated that he will remain a threat to the Constitution if allowed to remain in office, and has acted in a manner grossly incompatible with his duties and the rule of law.”

Massie also said Hegseth was guilty of “ignoring laws that minimize civilian casualties” and referenced the deaths of more than 200 civilians at an Iranian elementary school.

“Secretary Hegseth also cultivated a war-making culture at the Department of Defense, which he boasts as being dismissive of ‘stupid rules of engagement,’ with preference for ‘maximum lethality, not tepid legality,” Massie said.

He continued that under Hegseth’s leadership, the Defense Department “dismantled the safeguards necessary to distinguish civilian objects from military objects. Secretary Hegseth thereby effected the murder of civilians and abused the trust of men and women under his command by requiring them to conduct military operations within a targeted and legal review system that he had deliberately degraded.”

Massie, a Republican who represents Kentucky’s 4th Congressional District, was defeated in this year’s primary election by President Donald Trump’s pick for the seat, Ed Gallrein.

Massie told reporters Tuesday afternoon that he did not notify party leaders in advance that he intended to try to impeach Hegseth, CNN reported.

The Trump administration has argued that the war is essential to keep Iran from having nuclear weapons.

In response to Massie’s action, Kingsley Wilson, press secretary for the Pentagon, told NPR in a statement that Hegseth “has been a transformative leader for the Department of War.”

“The entire Department is unified behind the secretary’s vision and will continue working to put our warfighters and America first,” Wilson said.

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