House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries announced on Sunday that he is a “hard yes” on supporting an upcoming impeachment resolution targeting Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Speaking in an interview on ABC’s “This Week,” Jeffries criticized the Pentagon chief's leadership, stating that the defense secretary has abused his power, undermined national security, and engineered a costly war in Iran that has raised prices for Americans and diminished national safety. Jeffries' endorsement signals potential broader backing from House Democrats when the caucus meets to discuss the measure.
The impeachment push is being led by outgoing Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., who introduced articles of impeachment accusing Hegseth of several offenses, including carrying out the Iran conflict without congressional authorization. Because the resolution is privileged, it can bypass standard scheduling procedures and potentially reach a full House vote as soon as this week.
Hegseth has strongly contested the accusations, labeling Massie's resolution a sham and dismissing the lawmaker in a social media video as a “disgruntled, defeated congressman” driven by the politics of personal destruction. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump has publicly defended Hegseth, stating the defense secretary is performing well, even as the administration faces scrutiny over the handling of the Iran conflict following recent midterm elections.
