Republican congressman calls to impeach US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth

What the report says

Republican US Representative Thomas Massie has moved to impeach Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, according to Al Jazeera’s report from Washington, DC, published on September 15, 2026. Massie, who has become a prominent critic of the Trump administration’s Iran policy and broader military interventions, read articles of impeachment on the House floor and sought to force a vote in Congress.

The allegations Massie raised center on Hegseth’s handling of the US conflict with Iran. He accused the Pentagon chief of ordering or enabling military action without congressional authorization, of extrajudicial killings, and of disregarding civilian harm in operations. Massie argued that Hegseth placed policy goals above constitutional limits and the laws of armed conflict. The impeachment effort is considered a long shot in the Republican-controlled House, though it could come up for a vote in the coming days.

Al Jazeera reported that Hegseth has also drawn criticism for past comments dismissing rules intended to protect civilians and ensure compliance with military law. The Pentagon said it stands behind him, with press secretary Kingsley Wilson telling Reuters that the department is unified behind Hegseth’s leadership.

The case underscores a broader split on the political right over US intervention abroad. Al Jazeera noted that while many Republicans have supported the Iran war, a small number of figures, including Massie and Tucker Carlson, have become more openly skeptical of interventionist policy.