Hegseth to Face Impeachment Vote on Nov. 9 After Midterms

Rep. Thomas Massie plans to force a House vote to remove Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on November 9, the day after the midterm elections. The Kentucky Republican filed articles of impeachment in September, accusing Hegseth of abusing his office by executing orders for hostilities against Iran without Congressional approval.

According to a Wall Street Journal report published Friday, Massie intends to use his procedural leverage to bring the matter to the floor shortly after the House returns to session. This timeline places the vote in the immediate aftermath of the November 3 election, a window where the balance of power in the chamber may have shifted.

Democratic leadership has signaled its own intent to move against Hegseth if the party gains the majority. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries told a rally in Pennsylvania earlier this month that running Hegseth out of town would be one of the first actions of a new Democratic majority. Other Democrats have used sharper language. Rep. Pramila Jayapal described the secretary as incompetent and corrupt in a CNN interview. Rep. Jared Huffman called him an unhinged fanatic who should be impeached.

The push for removal comes as Hegseth's recent overseas activities draw scrutiny. On Monday, Hegseth held a covert meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at Israel's Ovda air base. Two sources confirmed the visit to Walla News on Tuesday. The meeting took place days before Israel's domestic election.

Hegseth confirmed the visit occurred but declined to elaborate on the specific details of the conversation. A report from KAN News on Tuesday stated that Iran was the main topic of discussion. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz reportedly attended the sit-down. Senior Israeli officials, including IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, were not invited to maintain confidentiality.

The combination of a filed impeachment article and a scheduled procedural push creates a specific mechanism for a floor vote. Massie's action targets a specific date in the legislative calendar. The outcome of the midterm elections will determine whether the party in control supports the removal or manages the process.

The defense secretary's office has not issued a detailed response to the specific articles filed by Massie. The November 9 date is the first concrete step in the removal process, moving the issue from preliminary discussion to a scheduled legislative action.