Republican Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky plans to force a House vote on impeaching Secretary of War Pete Hegseth when Congress returns next week, escalating a growing Republican backlash against the Pentagon chief following the party’s midterm election losses.

Massie said Wednesday that he intends to reintroduce articles of impeachment unless Hegseth resigns. In a post on X, the congressman made clear that the Secretary of War stepping down was the only circumstance that would stop him from renewing the effort.

“There is one contingency in which I won’t reintroduce the articles of impeachment: Hegseth resigns,” Massie wrote.

Massie previously introduced an eight-article impeachment resolution in September, accusing Hegseth of exceeding his authority and violating congressional war powers through military operations in Iran and other countries. The resolution also included allegations involving civilian protections during military operations and the treatment of critics of the administration. The effort stalled when Congress adjourned before lawmakers could vote.

The Kentucky Republican told CNN that he intends to trigger a vote when the House reconvenes next week. Multiple Republican sources told the network they expect the measure to pass, although its fate will depend on whether enough Republicans join Democrats in supporting impeachment.

Massie has connected his renewed effort to the Republican Party’s poor performance in Tuesday’s midterm elections, arguing that the administration’s problems cannot be attributed to a single issue. He specifically criticized what he described as Republicans’ excessive loyalty to President Donald Trump.

“You don’t screw up this badly an election with just one issue,” Massie told CNN. “It was completely avoidable if they’d just broken out of the cultish following of Donald Trump.”

The impeachment push comes as some Republicans have increasingly blamed Hegseth for the administration’s handling of the war in Iran. Critics within the party have argued that the defense secretary overstated the prospects for a quick victory and failed to provide a clear strategy for ending the conflict. Vice President JD Vance has also identified the war as a major reason Republicans lost the midterms.

Trump, however, has continued to defend Hegseth. On Wednesday, the president dismissed reports that he was considering replacing the defense secretary, telling reporters that Hegseth was “doing a very good job.” Trump has also reportedly told advisers that Hegseth should fight back against impeachment efforts and congressional investigations.

Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell likewise rejected the prospect of Hegseth stepping aside, saying the secretary would not be deterred by lawmakers seeking to challenge him. Parnell added that Hegseth remains fully committed to leading the Department of War through the end of Trump's term.

Even if Massie secures House approval, impeachment would not automatically remove Hegseth from office. The Senate would have to conduct a trial and vote to convict, requiring a two-thirds majority. The House has impeached a Cabinet secretary only twice in American history, including former Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas in 2024, whose case was dismissed by the Senate without a trial.