Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth casts impeachment push as attack on U.S. troops

By Vaughn Cockayne - The Washington Times - Updated: 10:06 a.m. on Tuesday, November 10, 2026

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Tuesday equated the push for his impeachment on Capitol Hill as an attack on U.S. troops who carried out operations in Iran, Venezuela and the Caribbean, as he faces a growing number of calls for his firing.

Speaking to reporters at the Pentagon for the first time in six months, Mr. Hegseth rejected accusations that the U.S. military directly targeted civilians, describing the accusations as “slander.”

“On the eve of Veterans Day, these resolutions tell every one of them that their service was a crime,” he said. “The only people who target civilians are the terrorists that we hunt, and I will dignify this claim no further.”

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His defiant comments come as Democrats, and some Republicans, push for his removal.

Outgoing Rep. Thomas Massie, Kentucky Republican, on Monday reintroduced a privileged resolution containing eight articles of impeachment against the defense secretary, accusing him of illegally waging war against Iran and abusing his authority at the Pentagon.

Mr. Massie, Kentucky Republican and a frequent critic of President Trump’s foreign policy, said Mr. Hegseth violated several provisions of the War Powers Resolution of 1973 by continuing military operations against Iran without congressional authorization.

Mr. Massie accused Mr. Hegseth of “high crimes and misdemeanors,” saying it requires his removal from office.

“Secretary Hegseth knowingly executed and implemented unlawful orders to initiate a war against a foreign nation notwithstanding the absence of congressional authorization,” Mr. Massie said on the House floor.

“Secretary of Defense Peter Hegseth by such conduct, has demonstrated that he will remain a threat to civilians, the lawful conduct of the United States military operations, the integrity and credibility of the United States armed forces and the Constitution if allowed to remain in office and has acted in a manner grossly incompatible with his duties and the rule of law,” Mr. Massie said.

He also accused Mr. Hegseth of disregarding laws designed to minimize civilian casualties, illegally authorizing deadly military strikes against suspected drug smugglers in the Caribbean and violating the law by retaliating against Sen. Mark Kelly, Arizona Democrat, for criticizing military operations.

Other articles of impeachment concern the U.S. operation that captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and unauthorized military action in Yemen.

House Republican leaders plan to hold the first vote in the impeachment vote Tuesday afternoon.

• Jeff Mordock contributed to this report.