Republican Representative Thomas Massie introduced a resolution on Tuesday to impeach U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, accusing him of defying Congress and continuing U.S. military operations in Iran unlawfully.
This move represents an escalation in Massie's efforts, as the representative from Kentucky prepares to leave Congress, to limit President Donald Trump's administration's use of war powers without congressional approval.
The resolution accuses Hegseth of carrying out orders to continue military operations in Iran, despite the constitutional authority held by Congress regarding war matters, and the House of Representatives voting on measures aimed at ending the confrontation.
Massie stated before the House that the Secretary of Defense's actions "hindered Congress's ability to exercise its most serious constitutional responsibilities" and allowed the continuation of what he termed an "illegal war."
He added that Hegseth, through these practices, acted in a manner that contradicts the trust placed in him as Secretary of Defense.
Massie did not inform Republican leaders in advance of his intention to introduce the resolution, according to Axios.
The impeachment resolution, composed of eight articles, not only addresses U.S. operations in Iran but also military movements in Venezuela and Yemen.
One of the articles accuses Hegseth of issuing directives to execute the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro without obtaining authorization from Congress.
Democrats in the House had previously launched a separate impeachment effort in April, presenting six articles that included accusations of waging unauthorized war against Iran.
The success of the impeachment effort seems unlikely given the Republicans' control of Congress, but Massie has presented his resolution as a priority measure, allowing him to mandate action within the House and compel its members to declare their positions on Hegseth's management of the war.
The House will need to consider the resolution within two legislative days, but Republican leadership could propose to freeze it and prevent it from moving to a final vote.
This move comes after a series of votes by the House to restrict the U.S. military campaign in Iran, including the passage of resolutions related to war powers in June and July, calling on the president to end U.S. combat operations against Tehran.