Republican Thomas Massie forces a House vote this week to impeach Pete Hegseth

Rep. Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican, introduced eight articles of impeachment against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on the House floor on Monday, Nov. 9, which obliges House leaders to deal with the measure this week. CNBC and the BBC both report the move.

What the articles allege

According to CNBC, the articles include waging war in contravention of war powers resolutions passed by Congress, extrajudicial killings tied to boat strikes in the Caribbean that were described as targeting drug smugglers, and suppressing free speech by targeting Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., a military veteran. Massie, per the BBC, said: "By engaging in hostilities in Iran for more than 90 days without congressional authorization, Secretary Hegseth is breaking the law and must be held accountable." These are Massie's allegations, not findings by any court or investigation.

How the process works from here

• The clock. Impeachment resolutions are privileged. CNBC reports the House must act on one, table it or refer it to committee within two legislative days. The BBC says Speaker Mike Johnson must schedule consideration in that window.
• The House math. Republicans hold a 218-214 majority, according to both outlets. CNBC says only a handful of Republican defections could be enough to impeach. Massie told reporters he was not sure the measure had the votes. House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries said Monday he supports impeaching Hegseth, and the BBC reports he called himself a "hard yes" on Sunday.
• The Senate. Removal requires a two-thirds Senate vote. The BBC notes that even when Democrats take over in January they will not have enough seats to convict without Republican support.
• The precedent. CNBC says the last Cabinet secretary impeached was Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas in 2024, and before him Secretary of War William Belknap in 1876. Neither was convicted by the Senate.

Why now, and what each side says

Massie lost his Republican primary in May and has criticized the Iran war since it began nearly nine months ago, the BBC reports. He first introduced impeachment articles in September and brought them back after last week's midterms, in which Democrats won majorities in both chambers. He said his effort is "a much gentler version of what's coming" when Democrats control Congress, and urged President Trump to replace Hegseth now, while a successor could still be confirmed by the current Senate.

Trump defended Hegseth on Monday. CNBC quotes him saying Hegseth "won two wars" and has "done a very good job," and that he will stand by him even if he is impeached. Hegseth said "We're not worried about that" and will hold a news conference at the Pentagon on Tuesday morning, his first since May, according to the BBC and CNBC. Jeffries called Hegseth "the architect of the reckless and costly failed war of choice in Iran," per CNBC.

What to watch

• Whether House leaders table the measure, send it to committee or allow an up-or-down vote, and how many Republicans cross over or stay away.
• Hegseth's Tuesday news conference.
• Whether Trump changes course on the Pentagon's leadership. Our earlier report covers the White House denials from last week.

For businesses, the practical stakes are indirect: the Pentagon leadership question bears on the Iran war's course, which feeds into oil prices and the defense contracting outlook. Neither outlet reports a market reaction to the impeachment filing itself.

Sources: CNBC, "Hegseth impeachment articles introduced by Rep. Massie," Nov. 9, 2026; BBC News, "Republican congressman to force impeachment vote on Defence Secretary Hegseth," Nov. 9, 2026. Photo: Gage Skidmore, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0. This article is news reporting, not investment advice.