Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., says he will reintroduce articles of impeachment against Secretary of War Pete Hegseth when Congress returns for its lame-duck session, keeping his confrontation with President Donald Trump’s administration alive even after voters rejected his bid for another term.

Massie announced his plans after accusing House leadership of ending the session early to prevent a vote on his impeachment effort. He also called on Trump to fire Hegseth, arguing that removing the secretary would be preferable to allowing the impeachment fight to proceed.

“Trump should fire Hegseth to avoid Hegseth’s impeachment. It’s the honorable thing to do. The House recessed early to avoid the vote, so I will reintroduce Hegseth articles of impeachment when we return for the lame duck session, regardless of the outcome of the midterm election,” Massie said.

The Kentucky Republican’s pledge comes after a major political setback earlier this year, when he lost the GOP primary to Ed Gallrein, a former Navy SEAL endorsed by Trump. The president actively campaigned against Massie, whose repeated breaks with the administration had made him a frequent target of Trump’s criticism.

Gallrein’s victory marked a defeat for one of the most outspoken Republican critics of the president within the House GOP conference. Massie has repeatedly opposed Trump on foreign policy and other issues, including the administration’s military campaign against Iran. He has also clashed with Republican leadership over congressional oversight and the release of records related to the Jeffrey Epstein investigation.

Despite losing his primary, Massie is signaling that he intends to use his remaining time in office to pursue his agenda rather than back away from his disputes with the administration. His promise to revive the impeachment articles after the election would put Hegseth back in the crosshairs during the lame-duck session, when lawmakers return before the next Congress takes office.

Massie introduced eight articles of impeachment against Hegseth in September, accusing the secretary of committing “high crimes and misdemeanors” over the administration’s military operations, including the war with Iran. Massie argued that Hegseth had exceeded his authority and carried out actions he considered unlawful. Those allegations are Massie’s claims, not established findings of wrongdoing.

House Speaker Mike Johnson rejected Massie’s accusations that the early recess was specifically designed to block the impeachment vote, describing the effort as a political stunt. The schedule change meant the House would not return to legislative business until after the midterm elections, leaving Massie’s resolution without a vote before the recess.

Massie’s latest announcement suggests he is prepared to continue pressing the issue despite his defeat at the ballot box. However, reintroducing the articles would not guarantee a vote or passage, and the effort faces an uncertain path in a Republican-controlled House.

With Trump-backed Gallrein having defeated him in the primary, Massie’s renewed impeachment push is likely to deepen his existing break with the president and congressional Republican leadership. Whether the effort gains enough support to advance remains to be seen.