“It's a publicity stunt by someone who wants attention. … Secretary Hegseth has done an extraordinary job. … It will immediately be tabled, of course. But we probably won't do that today. … It's time for our members to go home to their districts and make the case to the American people.
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The House Votes a Third Time to End the Iran War, 220-204, as Three More Republicans Cross Over — and the Same Day Thomas Massie Files Eight Articles of Impeachment Against Pete Hegseth, Saying He "Is Breaking the Law and Must Be Held Accountable," Before GOP Leaders Cancel the Rest of the Week's Votes
September 16, 2026
On Sept. 15, 2026, the House passed a war powers resolution directing President Trump to remove U.S. forces from hostilities with Iran, 220-204 — its third such vote, after a failed attempt in March and passage in June and July. Seven Republicans voted yes, the largest GOP defection yet: Reps. Tom Barrett (Mich.), Brian Fitzpatrick (Pa.), Warren Davidson (Ohio) and Thomas Massie (Ky.), who had backed earlier resolutions, joined for the first time by Nancy Mace (S.C.) and Iowa's Mariannette Miller-Meeks and Zach Nunn. The concurrent resolution does not go to the president; the Senate is to take it up by Oct. 2. Hours earlier, Massie rose on the House floor to introduce eight articles of impeachment against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth without notifying party leaders. The 34-page resolution accuses Hegseth of waging the Iran war for more than 90 days without congressional authorization, defying Congress, causing needless civilian casualties, retaliating against Sen. Mark Kelly for protected speech, and — in its seventh article — the "kidnapping of a sovereign foreign leader" in the January operation that seized Nicolás Maduro. Because Massie offered it as a privileged resolution, leadership had to act on it within days; Majority Whip Tom Emmer then announced that the week's last votes would be Wednesday afternoon, and Massie accused leaders of "canceling Congress" to avoid the vote. The Pentagon called Hegseth "a transformative leader," and Attorney General Todd Blanche said he "follows the law." The votes came the same week the Congressional Budget Office put the war's cost through August at $38.1 billion.
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Statements Recorded
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14 Statements
“We're calling off Congress? And we're in the majority? … Why would we be canceling days when the country is burning? … We should stay here for every day that's on the calendar and we should debate. … I'm not playing this game. I am going to tell people what is going on up here.
“There's really only one explanation for why they would cancel votes tomorrow and send us home early before the midterms, and that's because they are afraid that the House of Representatives will vote to impeach Pete Hegseth.
“The fact that they didn't vote on it tells me that they did a whip check, and they probably found that there were some other Republicans — besides me — that were gonna vote for this. … If there was any other reason that they canceled tomorrow's day of session, they could have had the Hegseth vote tonight.
“Secretary Hegseth is doing a phenomenal job, and the secretary of war doesn't just go off and do things. So, he follows the law.
“With the negotiating window closed, sustained combat operations now require congressional authorization. … I will not support another open-ended war.
“The administration has yet to demonstrate that seven months of war have produced a lasting strategic resolution to the threats posed by Iran.
“By engaging in hostilities in Iran for more than 90 days without congressional authorization, Secretary Hegseth is breaking the law and must be held accountable. … Secretary Hegseth's constitutional violations extend beyond the illegal war in Iran. … If we are to remain true to our oath to "support and defend the Constitution of the United States," Congress must not turn a blind eye to Secretary Hegseth's unconstitutional and illegal actions.
“They are a continuous ongoing threat to the United States. Enough is enough. … [President Trump is against] forever wars, and that is what he is ending.
“The President needs to present a plan to Congress and the American people for how this ends so we can focus on bringing our soldiers home and lowering prices.
“In all of this, Secretary Hegseth has acted in a manner contrary to his trust as Secretary of Defense and subversive of constitutional government, to the great prejudice of the cause of law and justice, and to the manifest injury of the people of the United States of America. … Secretary of Defense Peter Hegseth by such conduct has demonstrated that he will remain a threat to the Constitution, if allowed to remain in office.
“I didn't give anybody heads-up. When they found out I was doing the Epstein discharge petition, they canceled two weeks of Congress, and I think if they found out I was going to do this, they might have canceled even more days.
“They're canceling Congress tomorrow to avoid the vote on IMPEACHING @SecWar.
“Secretary Hegseth has been a transformative leader for the Department of War [who has] slashed bureaucracy, unleashed innovation, and delivered for our warfighters every step of the way. … The entire Department is unified behind the Secretary's vision and will continue working to put our warfighters and America first.