Hegseth removal vote set for Nov 9

The US House of Representatives is positioning itself to vote on the removal of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The timeline places the procedural vote on November 9, the first day of the new congressional session following the midterm elections. This schedule aligns with the return of lawmakers to Washington after the November 3 election cycle.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries indicated the party’s intent during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania earlier this month. "One of the first things we're going to do in the majority, we're going to run Pete Hegseth out of town," Jeffries said. His comments outline the legislative priority for the incoming Democratic leadership. The strategy relies on securing a sufficient majority in the lower chamber to advance the process.

Support for the effort extends beyond party lines. Republican Rep. Thomas Massie filed articles of impeachment against Hegseth in September. Massie accused the secretary of abusing his office by ordering hostilities against Iran without congressional approval. He has stated he will force a vote when the House reconvenes. His move adds procedural weight to the bipartisan push for accountability.

Other Democratic lawmakers have voiced similar sentiments in public forums. Rep. Pramila Jayapal described Hegseth as "incompetent and, frankly, corrupt" in an interview with CNN. Rep. Jared Huffman labeled him an "unhinged fanatic who should be impeached and removed from office." These statements reflect the tone of the internal debate regarding the secretary’s conduct and decision-making authority.

The political maneuvering coincides with Hegseth’s recent international travel. The defense secretary held a private meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at Ovda air base on Monday. This encounter occurred days before Israel’s general election. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz attended the session. Senior military leaders, including IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, were excluded from the discussion for confidentiality reasons.

Hegseth confirmed the visit to Reuters but declined to detail the conversation. According to reports from KAN News, the primary agenda item was Iran. The timing of the meeting and the selection of attendees have drawn scrutiny from oversight committees and partisan rivals. The November 9 date sets the stage for the initial legislative test of the administration’s military decisions.