The push to remove Pete Hegseth, from Tillis's call to fire him to Massie's impeachment bid

Rep. Thomas Massie read the articles, in a 34-page resolution, on the House floor, accusing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth of "high crimes and misdemeanors."^[3] The charges centered on violations of the War Powers Resolution, the 1973 law meant to limit a president's power to commit US forces to hostilities without Congress, in the Iran war. They also covered military operations in Yemen, the Caribbean and Venezuela and alleged retaliation against Sen. Mark Kelly.^[3] Massie said he acted "because we've exhausted all the other legal avenues for reining in the War Department."^[3] He filed it as a privileged resolution, which would force a House floor vote within two legislative days.^[3] The US strikes on Iran, the strikes on alleged drug boats and Hegseth's case against Kelly are followed in their own arcs.

Tillis had turned on Hegseth first. On September 2 he blamed Hegseth's "inept management" for the exit of Army Secretary Dan Driscoll and called for him to be fired,^[1] and after Massie's filing he said Hegseth "needs to go, whether it's impeachment or the most expedient route."^[7] In a memoir published in October, Tillis called his deciding vote to confirm Hegseth in January 2025 the "biggest regret of my career."^[2]

Speaker Mike Johnson recessed the House a day early for the campaign, and the vote on Massie's resolution was pushed into the lame-duck session after the midterm elections.^[4][5] In October, House Democrats rallied around removing Hegseth, with a vote on Massie's resolution expected when lawmakers return in mid-November.^[6]