Tillis Challenges Hegseth as Impeachment Vote Nears

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth faces growing political pressure as lawmakers prepare to return to Washington following the November 2026 midterm elections. Republican Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina questioned Hegseth's ability to secure congressional defense funding, while Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky is preparing to push for an impeachment vote during the outgoing Congress's remaining session.

According to The Hill and USA TODAY, the dispute involves allegations of constitutional violations, disagreements over military leadership and a $70 billion emergency defense funding request from the Trump administration.

Democrats have threatened to block the emergency funding package requested in June and the annual Defense appropriations bill covering fiscal 2027. The funding dispute comes as the United States remains involved in a military conflict with Iran.

Tillis, who supported Hegseth's confirmation in January 2025 with a decisive vote, has since become one of his strongest Republican critics. He described the defense secretary's political position as “a reckoning” and told CBS News:

“Hegseth has a reckoning,” Tillis said. “He is one of the reasons why we don’t have the funding or guarantee for defense that we need.

“I think after the election, we need to determine whether or not he’s the best person to bring those needs to Congress. If he wants something done before the end of this Congress, which is only 60 days away.”

Tillis also called his confirmation vote the “biggest regret of my career.” He has repeatedly criticized Hegseth for removing experienced military leaders and disregarding their professional advice.

Last month, Tillis publicly urged President Donald Trump to replace the Pentagon chief.

“I have never witnessed more inept management of the brave men and women who serve our country. He is intimidated by competence and retreats to ginning up culture wars instead of soberly attending to the vital work of our national defense and the health and well-being of our fighting force,” Tillis posted on X.

He added:

“I urge the president to find a new leader at the Pentagon who will retain and empower our military talent rather than diminish it,” Tillis said.

Massie introduced eight impeachment accusations against Hegseth on September 15. He intends to force a House vote when lawmakers return, although Republicans could defeat the resolution by voting to table it.

The allegations include conducting military operations against Iran without congressional authorization, capturing Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro without constitutional authority and killing suspected drug traffickers in the Caribbean without judicial authorization.

Massie argued that the accusations extend beyond the Iran conflict.

“Secretary Hegseth's constitutional violations extend beyond the illegal war in Iran,” Massie said. “He is abusing the power of his office to ignore congressional war powers resolutions, to kidnap foreign leaders and to intimidate critics of the Trump administration by retaliating against them for exercising free speech.”

Trump has defended Hegseth and rejected the impeachment effort.

“I think it's terrible. All they do is they talk about impeaching everybody,” Trump told reporters on October 28. “He's doing a great job. He's a great warrior. I think he's the best at his job in many many years and a lot of people agree with that.”

Pentagon press secretary Kingsley Wilson also defended the secretary, describing him as a “transformative leader” who had restored military standards and strengthened the country's arsenal.

“The entire Department is unified behind the Secretary's vision and will continue working to put our warfighters and America first,” Wilson said in a statement to USA TODAY.

Wilson had previously dismissed a Democratic impeachment proposal as “another charade in an attempt to distract the American people from the major successes we have had here at the Department of War.”

Trump has also criticized Massie, calling him a “loser,” a “lightweight” and “a major sleazebag” after the Kentucky Republican opposed the Iran war and other administration priorities.

Beyond Hegseth, Democrats are preparing broader investigations into the Trump administration as they seek congressional control in January. Impeachment resolutions have also been introduced against Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Education Secretary Linda McMahon, although none advanced under Republican House leadership.

Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland, the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, has argued that Trump committed impeachable offenses. He cited the Iran conflict without congressional authorization, government spending without congressional approval and the demolition of the White House East Wing.

“They have been plundering money from our government in the most massively corrupt presidential administration in American history,” Raskin told NBC's Meet the Press.

Raskin described impeachment as “a critical tool in the toolbox,” while emphasizing that lawmakers could also respond through legislation.

“Impeachment is not a taboo with us, it's not a fetish with us, we understand it is not a panacea,” Raskin said. “We will not hesitate to use it if we need to use it.”

At least four impeachment resolutions targeting Trump have been introduced during his second term. Their sponsors include Shri Thanedar, John Larson, Al Green and Steve Cohen, who filed 26 accusations against the president on September 24.

Trump was previously impeached twice by the Democratic-led House during his first presidency, over his dealings with Ukraine and the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack. The Senate acquitted him in both cases because neither proceeding secured the two-thirds majority required for conviction.

Massie's impeachment proposal against Hegseth could face a House vote as early as November 2026, before the outgoing Congress completes its remaining legislative session.