House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries says he is a ‘hard yes’ on impeaching Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth
House Democrats’ knot of impeachment discussions against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth gained clear momentum as Hakeem Jeffries publicly endorsed Rep. Thomas Massie’s bid, calling him a “hard yes.” The move signals growing willingness among Democrats to pursue removal proceedings amid criticism of the Iran war and rising costs for Americans. The push is poised for a House vote after filing early this week, with leadership weighing whether fellow Democrats would back the measure. The controversy also involves President Trump’s mixed signals about Hegseth’s job and ongoing partisan attacks tied to defense and foreign policy decisions. The outlook remains uncertain as party cohesion and strategic considerations shape the next steps.
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Jeffries told ABC's This Week that he supports Massie’s impeachment effort, stating he is a hard yes on the Hegseth resolution and accusing the secretary of abusing power and undermining national security amid the Iran conflict.
Massie has been a prominent critic of Hegseth and the Iran war; he previously filed an impeachment resolution in September, which Republican leadership postponed, then left to be decided after the election.
The impeachment push among Democrats is framed as a test of how far lawmakers will go to remove the Pentagon’s top official, especially given voters’ dissatisfaction with the administration’s handling of Iran and related costs.
House leadership indicated the resolution would be filed early in the week with a subsequent vote, and Jeffries noted there would be conversations with other members about their positions.
Trump publicly denied plans to replace Hegseth, even as NBC News reported that he had discussed the possibility with allies; Hegseth has criticized Massie as a “disgruntled, defeated congressman” in social media, framing the dispute as political theater.
Massie responded that a more expansive process would follow if Democrats controlled Congress, suggesting hearings and trials, while Democrats’ internal dynamics and the timing of the vote remain in flux.