Iran War Fallout: Impeachment Resolution Filed Against U.S. Defense Secretary Hegseth

【Financial News, New York — Correspondent Lee Byung-chul】 A resolution to impeach U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has been introduced. The central grounds for impeachment are that he waged the Iran war without congressional approval and abused his power. The move is especially notable because a Republican lawmaker from President Donald Trump’s party is leading the impeachment effort. Observers say divisions within the Republican Party over the Iran war are now intensifying following the party’s crushing midterm defeat.
On the 9th (local time), Republican Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky introduced a resolution to impeach Secretary Hegseth. The resolution lists as grounds for impeachment waging war against Iran without congressional approval, abuse of power, and violations of Democratic lawmakers’ freedom of expression, among other charges.
The U.S. House is expected to vote on the resolution as early as the 11th. Congressional officials believe it could secure the majority needed to pass even in the current House, where Republicans hold the majority. However, it is considered unlikely to result in Hegseth’s removal from office in the Senate. Conviction and removal in the Senate would require the support of at least two-thirds of its members, while Republicans currently hold 53 of the Senate’s 100 seats.
The impeachment push is drawing attention because it came just after Democrats retook both chambers of Congress in the midterm elections on the 3rd. As voter backlash over the Iran war led to a crushing Republican defeat at the polls, debate within the party over who is responsible for the war is also gaining momentum. Vice President JD Vance has publicly questioned the Iran war, while Secretary Hegseth has defended it as “a courageous and historic decision.”
President Trump has strongly defended Secretary Hegseth. In an interview on CBS’s “60 Minutes,” which aired on the 8th, he said, “They are trying to impeach Hegseth. It is very unfair,” and claimed, “We fought two wars and won them both.” House Speaker Mike Johnson also opposed the effort, saying that pursuing impeachment while military conflicts are underway abroad could send the wrong message to both allies and adversaries.
Secretary Hegseth also dismissed the possibility of resigning. Asked whether he had secured enough support from Republican lawmakers to block impeachment, he said, “We are not worried.” He added, “Impeachment didn’t work against President Trump, and it won’t work against me,” signaling that he would fight it head-on.
However, concerns are growing within the Republican Party over Secretary Hegseth’s future. Some lawmakers fear that a clash between Hegseth and Congress could derail the Trump administration’s $1.5 trillion defense budget package.
Rep. Massie said, “If Democrats take control of Congress next January, they will hold hearings and conduct trial proceedings,” and urged, “President Trump should replace Secretary Hegseth now, while the Senate can still confirm a successor.”
Democrats have also vowed to go on the offensive. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said he “strongly supports” impeaching Secretary Hegseth. After the new Congress convenes next January, Democrats plan to focus their investigations on matters including the dismissal of the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and senior military commanders.



[email protected] Correspondent Lee Byung-chul Reporter