The articles accuse Hegseth of waging war in Iran without congressional approval, beginning in February, and of engaging in hostilities there for more than 90 days, past the 60-day limit set by the War Powers Resolution of 1973. They also cover operations in Yemen and Venezuela, including the capture of Venezuela's leader, which the resolution calls a kidnapping. Massie says Hegseth "knowingly executed and implemented unlawful orders" and calls his conduct a "threat to the Constitution."

Two of the articles concern killings. Massie says Hegseth dismantled rules of engagement and cut offices meant to reduce civilian harm, contributing to a US strike on the Shajareh Tayyebeh Elementary School in Minab, Iran. The death tolls he cites include 120 schoolchildren, 26 teachers and a bus driver. He also describes strikes on suspected drug-trafficking boats as the "summary execution of at least 243 persons in international waters." Another article accuses Hegseth of suppressing free speech by seeking military sanctions against Sen. Mark Kelly, an Arizona Democrat, after Kelly urged service members to refuse illegal orders.

This is a reintroduction. Massie first submitted the articles in September, but that version was reportedly never formally filed or given a resolution number because of a procedural error. He says the new text carries "clerical changes" and is identical in substance.

The politics are unusual. Massie lost his re-election bid this year, reportedly in a primary against a Trump-backed challenger, and leaves office when the current Congress ends. Democrats won both chambers in the midterms and take control in January. Massie argues that removing Hegseth now would pre-empt Democrats from holding their own "hearings and trials." He has no formal co-sponsors and has offered no vote count, though he told one outlet that support could come from Republicans who lost their own races, whom he jokingly calls the "retirement caucus," and from vulnerable incumbents who want distance from the administration. He has also floated a way to carry the proceedings into the next Congress, possibly before a Democratic Senate, and acknowledged that this reading has not been independently verified.

Johnson could move to table the articles or refer them to committee, which would effectively end the effort. Among Republicans, Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska is weighing the question, Rep. French Hill of Arkansas says he is dissatisfied with how the war has been handled, and Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina has criticized Hegseth and said he regrets voting to confirm him. House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries has indicated support. The House has previously passed War Powers resolutions aimed at stopping military action in Iran, and Massie backed them.

Hegseth told reporters on Monday he is "not worried" and released a video calling the articles a "sham." In a speech at the Naval War College in Rhode Island, he announced more than 30 operational changes to the war colleges. He is scheduled to hold a news conference at the Pentagon on Tuesday morning to address the impeachment effort. President Donald Trump defended him in a Truth Social post, saying no impeachable acts were committed and calling the process "illegal." Trump also acknowledged that the incoming Democratic majorities would likely make it hard to confirm a successor without bipartisan support.

If the House impeaches, removal requires a Senate vote of two-thirds, or 67 senators.