United States Pete Hegseth faces an impeachment resolution introduced in the House of Representatives by Republican Representative Thomas Massie on Monday, November 9, 2026, amid fallout from the administration’s military campaign against Iran.
Massie filed the moção to force a floor vote this week, targeting Hegseth with eight specific charges. VEJA reported that the initiative questions the handling of military operations without congressional authorization, including strikes in the Caribbean, the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, and actions in Yemen.
The primary focus of the resolution centers on the conflict with Iran. UOL reported that Massie accused Hegseth of war crimes stemming from an attack on a school in Minab that killed 156 people, including 120 children.
“Tratou-se de um erro causado diretamente pelo desmonte conduzido pelo secretário Hegseth da infraestrutura jurídica do Departamento de Defesa criada para proteger civis,” Massie stated, according to UOL. The congressman argued that Hegseth refused to follow Pentagon legal doctrine designed to mitigate civilian harm.
The impeachment push follows a historic defeat for the Republican Party in the midterm elections. CNN Brasil reported that party insiders and Vice President J.D. Vance pointed to the deeply unpopular war with Iran as a decisive factor in the electoral losses.
House Speaker Mike Johnson criticized the resolution during the opening of the session. “Não recorremos ao impeachment de secretários do gabinete para obter ganhos políticos ou por meio de manobras baratas; é exatamente isso o que está acontecendo aqui, e todos sabem disso,” Johnson declared.
Democratic House leader Hakeem Jeffries announced support for the impeachment measure, stating that Hegseth abused his power and compromised national security.
Donald Trump dismissed the impeachment push in a social media statement on Monday evening. CNN Brasil reported that Trump defended the defense chief as a successful military official and criticized Massie.
“O deputado republicano Thomas Massie, derrotado nas eleições e um completo fracassado, está tentando abrir um processo de impeachment contra talvez o oficial militar mais popular e bem-sucedido do país, o secretário da Guerra, Pete Hegseth,” Trump wrote, according to CNN Brasil. Trump afirmou que o recrutamento militar atingiu seu nível mais alto na história sob Hegseth e exortou o Congresso a defendê-lo.
| Metric / Action | Details |
|---|---|
| Target of Resolution | Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth |
| Author of Motion | Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Kentucky) |
| Key Allegations | Unauthorized Iran conflict, Minab school strike, Caribbean and Venezuela operations |
| Legislative Requirement | Simple majority in the House; two-thirds in the Senate |
Hegseth minimized the pressure during a speech at the Naval War College in Rhode Island. “Se vocês querem questionar o que fizemos na Operação Epic Fury, na Rough Rider ou na captura de Nicolás Maduro, estão questionando as tropas e o que elas conquistaram, algo histórico,” Hegseth stated, according to VEJA.
Removal from office requires approval by a simple majority in the House of Representatives, where Republicans retain control until January 3, 2027, followed by a two-thirds vote in the Senate.
