If Democrats win control of Congress next year, they will face the question of whether to impeach President Donald Trump. Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky recently introduced a resolution targeting Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, demonstrating the potential power of impeaching cabinet secretaries. Following Massie's move, House GOP leaders opted to leave early for campaign season instead of allowing a vote that could have garnered support from Democrats and some Republicans, potentially embarrassing for Trump and the GOP. Massie stated that 'impeaching cabinet members is highly underrated,' suggesting that cabinet secretaries may receive pardons at the end of their tenure.
As Democrats prepare for aggressive oversight investigations of the Trump administration, some members are advocating for impeachment beyond just investigating the president. Democrats previously pursued impeachment against Trump twice without achieving a successful conviction in the Senate. The GOP's hesitance to defend Hegseth indicates a possible strategy for Democrats to focus on cabinet members who may lack strong political loyalty from Republicans.
Rep. Jamie Raskin, expected to lead the House Judiciary Committee, noted that even the threat of impeachment could prompt changes within the White House. He mentioned that impeachment resolutions related to Kristi Noem and Pam Bondi were filed, leading to their removal from the administration. Rep. James Walkinshaw expressed skepticism about obtaining enough Republican support in the Senate but acknowledged that investigations could create distractions for the White House.
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries did not dismiss the idea of impeaching a cabinet member or Trump, stating, 'We haven’t ruled anything out when it comes to all of the tools available to us to hold people accountable.' Historically, the impeachment of cabinet secretaries is rare, with only two ever impeached by the House: Secretary of War William Belknap in 1876 and Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas in 2024, neither of whom was convicted in the Senate.
Many Democrats expressed hesitance regarding impeachment, questioning its efficacy given the two-thirds threshold for conviction in the Senate. Some emphasized the need to focus on issues like the cost of living rather than pursuing impeachment. Rep. Pat Ryan stated that impeachment may not be worth the effort without a reasonable chance of success, while other Democrats suggested alternative approaches, such as investigatory hearings. Sen. Mazie Hirono noted that there are multiple routes to accountability, and Sen. Tim Kaine emphasized the importance of legislating to address voter concerns.