House Minority Leader Backs Impeachment Vote for Hegseth

Representative Hakeem Jeffries, the House Minority Leader from New York, confirmed on Sunday that he will support an effort to impeach Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. This endorsement arrives as the resolution is expected to reach the House floor for a vote this week, marking a shift in how leadership is handling the measure.

Jeffries spoke during an interview on ABC’s This Week, where he was asked if he would back Representative Thomas Massie’s initiative. Massie, a Republican from Kentucky, has been the primary driver of the removal effort. Jeffries stated clearly, "I strongly support the resolution against Hegseth." He added that the Secretary must go, citing what he described as an abuse of power and a reckless war in Iran.

The Democrat’s backing is a key development because it signals where other House Democrats may stand. While the vote is not yet guaranteed across the entire party, Jeffries said the full discussion among his caucus members is scheduled for Tuesday morning. The House is returning to session this week, and the resolution is expected to be introduced early in the week, followed immediately by a vote.

Jeffries accused Hegseth of undermining national security and driving up prices for American households through the conflict in Iran. He characterized the war as one launched by the Secretary’s own decision, arguing that it has left the country less safe while increasing costs for ordinary families.

Massie, who has been a vocal critic of both Hegseth and the war strategy, first introduced a similar resolution in September. At that time, Republican leaders had scheduled a vote, but they canceled it and suspended the House session early, pushing the decision past the midterm elections. Massie noted on social media that his current proposal is a moderate step compared to what he predicts will happen if Democrats take control of Congress, where he expects hearings and trials to follow.

Secretary Hegseth has reacted strongly to the threat of impeachment. In a video posted to social media last week, he called Massie a "resented and defeated member of Congress." Hegseth argued that the move is personal politics designed to destroy him, a tactic he said failed against President Donald Trump and would fail against him as well.

The timing of the vote coincides with a period of tension between the administration and the legislative branch. NBC News reported last week that President Trump told allies he was considering replacing Hegseth. However, the President has publicly denied those plans, telling reporters that the Secretary is doing a "very good job." This public stance contrasts with the private discussions reported by the network.

Representative Yassamin Ansari, a Democrat from Arizona, also introduced a resolution to impeach Hegseth in April. She shared Jeffries’ comments on social media on Sunday, writing that the Secretary must answer for his actions. Ansari urged colleagues to bring the matter to the full House and put it to a vote this week, reinforcing the pressure to resolve the question before the legislative calendar moves on.