US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth is at the centre of speculation about a possible move to the Senate as a Republican congressman prepares to revive impeachment proceedings against him. The Pentagon has dismissed the speculation, and there is no confirmed plan for Hegseth to resign.
Washington publication Puck reported on 25 October that there was discussion on Capitol Hill about Hegseth seeking an appointment to Republican Senator Marsha Blackburn’s seat if she wins the Tennessee governorship in the 3 November election. The report, by Leigh Ann Caldwell and Marianna Sotomayor, relied on unnamed Washington sources, rather than an announcement by Hegseth or Blackburn.
The suggested move would create a possible alternative political career for Hegseth at a moment when his position at the Pentagon is under mounting scrutiny. But the existence of the report does not establish that he has asked for the appointment, secured an agreement or decided to leave the administration.
What has the Pentagon said?
A Pentagon spokesperson rejected the Senate-seat reports as anonymous Washington gossip and said Hegseth remains focused on leading the department under President Donald Trump, according to The Independent’s reporting on 26 October. There has been no public confirmation from Hegseth of any plan to pursue Blackburn’s seat.
That distinction matters: the discussion of an exit route is a report about political conversations, not a resignation announcement.
Republican Thomas Massie plans an impeachment vote
The pressure is more concrete in Congress. Republican Representative Thomas Massie told Roll Call on 26 October that he intends to pursue a vote on his Hegseth impeachment resolution in the first week lawmakers return after the midterm elections, beginning 9 November, provided Hegseth remains in office.
Massie has circulated eight proposed articles of impeachment. They accuse Hegseth of constitutional and legal violations relating to US military operations, including the war involving Iran, and other alleged abuses of his office. These are allegations contained in a proposed congressional resolution. They are not criminal convictions or established judicial findings.
Massie’s initiative is particularly notable because it comes from a Republican rather than from the Democrats who have made Hegseth’s removal a political priority. It also means a potential vote could arise during the outgoing Congress, before newly elected members take office.
Democrats also want Hegseth removed
Separately, The Wall Street Journal reported that House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries has identified Hegseth’s removal as an early priority should Democrats gain control of the House. A House impeachment vote would require sufficient support from representatives; removal following impeachment would require a separate Senate conviction.
Political calls for removal should not be mistaken for a decision already taken by Congress. Nor does an impeachment proposal demonstrate that its allegations have been proven.
Could Blackburn actually appoint Hegseth?
The scenario depends on several events that have not happened. Blackburn must first win Tennessee’s governorship and leave her Senate seat vacant. Under Tennessee law, section 2-16-101, the governor can make an interim Senate appointment until a successor is elected at the next regular November election and qualified.
That legal possibility does not mean Blackburn has offered Hegseth the position. Other potential candidates may seek the vacancy, and the timing would depend on the election result and a subsequent departure from the Senate.
A move to the Senate would not, by itself, amount to a finding that the accusations against Hegseth were baseless. Equally, talk of an impeachment effort does not establish that he is about to lose his job. Whether proceedings could continue after a resignation is a separate constitutional and political question, not a guaranteed escape from scrutiny.
What happens next?
- 3 November: US midterm elections, including Tennessee’s contest for governor.
- Week of 9 November: Massie says he intends to seek a House vote on his impeachment proposal if Hegseth remains in office.
- After the Tennessee election: Any possible Senate appointment would depend on Blackburn winning, taking office, and a vacancy arising.
Bottom line: Hegseth is facing a documented effort to impeach him, alongside an unconfirmed report that a Tennessee Senate seat is being discussed as a possible exit. There is currently no verified evidence that he has decided to resign.
