Republican Thomas Massie will force impeachment vote on Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth

Massie presses for a vote

Massie, a Kentucky congressman, introduced the impeachment resolution on the House floor on Monday afternoon. He first filed impeachment articles in September and is now seeking a vote after Republicans lost control of the House and Senate in last week's midterm elections.

Republicans will retain control of Congress until January, so the impeachment effort is likely to fail. Massie has said he wants to avoid a Democratic-led impeachment process next year.

Claims against Hegseth

Massie accuses Hegseth of intimidating critics of the Trump administration, kidnapping foreign leaders and disregarding congressional war powers resolutions. The House has passed a War Powers resolution multiple times this year seeking to stop Trump from taking further military action in Iran, with Massie's support; the Senate passed one over the summer.

Support and political prospects

House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries said on Sunday that he is a “hard yes” on impeaching Hegseth. Massie is likely to have Democratic support, but he would also need backing from Republicans.

Only two cabinet members have been impeached by the House in US history, and the Senate did not agree with either case. Loge said Hegseth's chances of remaining in the job through the end of Trump's term are “pretty slim,” and considered presidential removal more likely than impeachment.