Republican Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky issued an ultimatum to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday, saying he must resign or face impeachment, according to the Washington Examiner. Massie plans to force a vote on impeachment articles when Congress returns following the midterm elections. The move comes as Republicans increasingly blame the unpopular Iran war for their historic electoral losses. Vice President JD Vance publicly acknowledged Wednesday that “the reason we lost is the war,” adding pressure on the administration to address the conflict and its political consequences.

Hegseth, one of the strongest advocates for military action against Iran, is facing growing criticism from Republicans who argue he misrepresented how quickly and easily the conflict could be resolved. Some GOP lawmakers believe continued military escalation has prolonged the war, contributed to rising costs for Americans and damaged the party politically. Massie’s impeachment effort accuses Hegseth of abusing his authority and violating constitutional limits on military action. Despite the growing backlash, President Donald Trump has continued to publicly defend Hegseth, previously calling him one of his strongest officials.

Massie argued that the Republican defeat cannot be blamed on a single issue, saying the election losses were “completely avoidable” if Republicans had moved away from what he described as the party’s “cultish following of Donald Trump.” Hegseth has vowed to remain in his position and defend the administration’s military decisions, with Pentagon officials dismissing impeachment efforts as politically motivated. Democrats, who will take control of the House in January, are expected to intensify investigations into the Iran war and Hegseth’s leadership. The growing controversy could make the defense secretary one of the administration’s biggest political liabilities in the coming months.