Republican Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky announced on Monday that he intends to pursue impeachment proceedings against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth if Hegseth is still serving in his role after the upcoming November midterm elections. Massie’s stated motivation for the impeachment centers on his opposition to Hegseth’s handling of military policy related to Iran.

This announcement marks a continuation of a legislative effort Massie initiated in September. At that time, Massie argued that Hegseth’s actions regarding the war in Iran warranted removal from office. By setting a deadline tied to the post-midterm return of Congress, Massie is signaling that he expects a change in leadership at the Pentagon. If Hegseth remains in his post when lawmakers return to Washington, D.C., Massie has committed to formally reintroducing the impeachment articles.

While Massie has been vocal about his position, the broader Republican caucus has not signaled widespread support for this move. The situation highlights a specific point of friction between Massie and the current administration’s defense leadership. As of now, the Pentagon has not issued a formal response to the threat of impeachment, and the political viability of such a measure remains uncertain given the current composition of Congress.