Rep. Thomas Massie seeks impeachment vote for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth as Congress returns to Washington

Congress returned to Washington in early November with new members arriving for orientation, while the current House and Senate focused on a final legislative stretch before leadership changes later in the year, according to coverage of the first day back. Several lawmakers and political watchers pointed to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth as a central test of whether House process can quickly surface impeachment-related action.

Republican Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky moved to force a vote to impeach Hegseth, according to PBS NewsHour Politics. Multiple outlets reported that Massie’s effort is intended to bring the matter to the House floor rather than leaving it solely in committee or to executive-branch discretion.

The impeachment push comes as Hegseth continued public-facing engagements tied to his role at the Department of Defense. The Hill reported that he addressed the Naval War College while the impeachment effort was being discussed publicly in Congress.

Because impeachment votes and related procedural steps are typically reflected in official House records, the existence and timing of any House-floor vote tied to Massie’s motion could not be confirmed from an official or House clerk record within the materials provided for this draft. Outlet reporting describes Massie’s move, but Apex Times is not yet able to verify the procedural status or any vote count through primary legislative records.

If Massie’s request proceeds to floor consideration, the practical effect would be a direct test of House impeachment procedure and scheduling during the remaining weeks of the congressional session. Such action would also determine whether the House chooses to formally advance impeachment as a constitutional remedy, potentially setting up later stages in the Senate that follow different procedural rules.

As Congress continues its work, lawmakers are expected to weigh whether to take up impeachment-related measures alongside routine legislative and oversight items. Any formal vote outcomes would be reflected in official House records and would clarify whether impeachment becomes an active legislative process or remains a political dispute handled through other oversight channels.