Hakeem Jeffries backs impeachment resolution against defense secretary Pete Hegseth

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries declared on Sunday that he strongly supports impeaching Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, the Guardian and the Washington Examiner reported. Speaking on ABC's This Week, the New York Democrat announced he is a hard yes on an impeachment resolution against Hegseth, according to reports by the Guardian, the Washington Examiner, the Washington Post, and the BBC. [1][3][5][8][9]

Jeffries fully backed an expected resolution from Representative Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican who filed eight articles of impeachment against Hegseth in early September, the Washington Examiner reported. Massie plans to force a House vote as the chamber prepares to consider the measure following Democratic midterm election wins, according to reports from the Guardian and the Washington Examiner. [1][3][4]

Jeffries accused the defense official of abusing his power, undermining national security, and engineering a costly war in Iran that raised prices for Americans, according to the Washington Examiner. As FTMQ News reported earlier, President Donald Trump previously acknowledged voter disagreement with the war in Iran after Republican midterm defeats triggered renewed calls for Hegseth's removal. [3][15]

Jeffries has served as a member of the Democratic Party and leader of the House Democratic Caucus since 2023. Hegseth, a former television personality and U.S. Army veteran, has served as secretary of defense since 2025. The impeachment effort moves forward as Democrats prepare to take the House majority following the midterm election results, Axios reported. [1][4][10][11]