US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth is facing an impeachment resolution over allegations that he ordered military operations against Iran without congressional approval and abused his authority.

On Monday, November 9, Representative Thomas Massie, a Republican congressman from Kentucky, introduced eight articles of impeachment against Hegseth in the House of Representatives.

The allegations include ordering military operations against Iran without congressional authorisation, unilaterally dismissing senior military officials, including the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and attempting to pursue treason charges against Democratic Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona.

Massie said the House should hold a vote on each of the eight articles and allow detailed debate on the allegations. However, he expressed concern that Republican leaders might use a procedural motion to block the impeachment process and avoid a direct vote.

Republicans currently control the House of Representatives, making the resolution's passage uncertain. In the Senate, a two-thirds majority would be required to convict Hegseth. With Republicans holding 53 of the chamber's 100 seats, the proposal is considered unlikely to succeed there.

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump has defended Hegseth and criticised the impeachment initiative.

In an interview with Reuters on Monday, Trump referred to US military operations in Iran and Venezuela, saying Hegseth had won two wars. He questioned why lawmakers were seeking to impeach the defence secretary.

Speaking at a White House press conference, Trump also pledged to stand by Hegseth despite the impeachment effort and criticised Massie for introducing the resolution.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and House Speaker Mike Johnson have also criticised the initiative as unjustified. In contrast, Democratic leaders, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, have expressed support for the proposal.

Hegseth has said he is not concerned about the impeachment effort. In a message on Monday, he referred to Trump's two previous impeachments, arguing that the process had failed against the president and would not succeed against him either.

In US history, only one defence secretary has previously been impeached. In 1876, the House of Representatives impeached then-Secretary of War William Belknap over allegations of accepting bribes. He resigned later that year.

If Massie's resolution advances, it would mark the first impeachment proceedings against a US defence secretary in nearly 150 years.

Source: Reuters