House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries declared himself a hard yes on Sunday regarding a Republican-led resolution to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
The New York Democrat made the announcement during an appearance on ABC’s This Week, positioning himself firmly behind the effort as lawmakers prepare to return to Washington following the midterm elections.
Massie Revival Forces Washington Showdown
Kentucky Republican Representative Thomas Massie plans to reintroduce his impeachment resolution against Hegseth on Monday, setting up an immediate legislative showdown. The measure contains eight articles of impeachment, including accusations that Hegseth violated the War Powers Resolution of 1973.
Trump told me this morning he intends to keep Pete Hegseth as Defense Secretary: “I have every intention to keep him.” Trump acknowledged receiving calls from people unhappy with Hegseth, but said, “I get these calls, you know, about him. I don't understand why.” He also…
Massie lost his primary to a Trump-backed opponent, leaving him an outgoing congressman with little left to lose. Axios reported that retiring lawmakers and defeated members are significantly more willing to back the measure as political calculations shift across Capitol Hill.
Jeffries stated that House Democrats will discuss the resolution during a caucus meeting on Tuesday morning. Jeffries expressed confidence that the caucus will show incredibly strong support for the measure.
War in Iran Drives Republican Defections
The mounting pressure on Hegseth follows severe Republican losses in the midterm elections, with voters and party members identifying the conflict in Iran as a primary catalyst for the defeat. CNN noted that the electoral thrashing has accelerated the push to find a cabinet-level official to take the fall.
Jeffries told NPR on Friday that the conflict is a “war of choice” that has skyrocketed gas prices, diesel prices, and fertilizer prices. He argued that the military action has driven up the cost of everyday goods for American families.
A Republican close to the White House told CNN that Hegseth has been either dishonest or incorrect regarding military timelines, goals, and objectives since the beginning of the campaign. A former senior Pentagon official added that the conflict became primarily a Department of War-led effort because leaders chose military action to resolve a foreign policy matter.
Trump Stands Firm as Hegseth Fights Back
Despite the growing calls for his removal from office, President Donald Trump dismissed the possibility of replacing his defense secretary. When reporters asked on Wednesday whether he was considering a change, Trump told them that he thinks Hegseth is doing a very good job.
Hegseth posted a defiant video on social media Thursday to push back against the impeachment effort, characterizing the push as a politically motivated campaign. He accused a disgruntled, defeated congressman and his Democratic allies of dropping sham articles of impeachment.
Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell told Axios in a statement that Hegseth will not back down or be deterred by politicians seeking to score partisan points. Removing the defense secretary from office would still require a two-thirds vote in the Senate, a high threshold to achieve even when Democrats assume control of the chamber in January.
