WASHINGTON, D.C. — Rep. Thomas Massie called for an impeachment vote on Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth in September 2026, citing interference in military promotion boards and a disproportionate impact on Black and female officers. The call follows reports that Hegseth has inserted himself into promotion board decisions, particularly regarding the selection of officers for promotion to major general.

Hegseth has blocked the advancement of more than 80 generals and admirals, according to Department of Defense personnel records. Adverse promotion decisions under Hegseth have disproportionately affected Black and female officers, based on department promotion statistics. This pattern of intervention aligns with public statements Hegseth made earlier in the year regarding military culture and ideology.

In a speech to the West Point graduating class in May 2026, Pete Hegseth criticized "woke" and "anti-American ideologies" and those who "embraced the DEI craze." The defense secretary attended the Defense Department's 2026 National POW/MIA Recognition Day Ceremony on September 18, 2026, just two days before Massie's impeachment call. These personnel actions occur as the department manages broader operational commitments in other regions.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that Colombia, Guatemala, and Honduras agreed to allow U.S. joint military operations against criminal groups on their soil, though Guatemala denied reaching such a deal. Concurrently, the U.S. military has killed at least 231 people in 69 strikes against alleged drug-smuggling boats in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific since September 2, 2025. It remains unclear how the House will respond to Rep. Massie's call for impeachment or what specific evidence supports the claims of disparate impact.