Lame Duck Congress Faces Hegseth Impeach and Leadership Shakeup

The House and Senate returned to Washington on Monday to begin a six week lame duck session, marked by the arrival of newly elected Democrats and the departure of outgoing Republican leaders. President Donald Trump arrived from his Florida home on Sunday night, where he defended Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth against growing calls for impeachment. Trump told reporters that Hegseth was guilty of winning two wars and that it was difficult to impeach someone who he believed saved the Middle East and Israel.

The primary legislative priority for the remaining Republican majority is a resolution to impeach Hegseth over his leadership of the Iran war. Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky pushed the measure forward despite objections from House GOP leadership. House Speaker Mike Johnson, who remains in his current role until January, previously blocked a similar vote in September. It is now unclear if Johnson can stall the process again without adjourning the chamber, as momentum builds to hold the secretary accountable for the conflict that many Republicans blame for their election losses.

Democrats signaled strong support for the impeachment bid. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries stated on ABC that it was time for Hegseth to go, arguing the secretary abused his power and engineered a costly war of choice in Iran. Jeffries is on track to become the first Black speaker of the House if his party retains control of the chamber after the January 3 transition. However, Rep. Greg Casar of Texas, chairman of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, noted that the focus at freshman orientation remained on policy rather than individual leadership, emphasizing the need for a progressive path forward.

The transition of power will bring significant changes to party leadership. House Republicans are preparing for a contentious battle to replace Johnson, with Rep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana and Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio emerging as the main contenders. In the Senate, Majority Leader John Thune is expected to retain his position as the party shifts to the minority, following Democratic wins in Texas and Kansas. Democrats will hold their leadership elections later this month, with Sen. Chuck Schumer facing potential challenges from Sen. Abdul El-Sayed of Michigan and Sen. Adam Hamilton of Kansas, who have declined to publicly support his bid.

Beyond leadership and impeachment, the lame duck session has a tight deadline to fund the government by mid-December to avoid another shutdown. Lawmakers must also pass the annual defense bill, which is currently stalled over disputes regarding funding for the Iran war and military aid to Israel. The Senate is also set to launch votes on legislation to expedite permitting reviews for new energy infrastructure projects, a move President Trump urged senators to support in a Sunday social media post. Additionally, there is pressure to confirm judicial nominees before Republicans lose control of the chamber in January.

The atmosphere on Capitol Hill reflected the political shift, with dozens of jubilant Democrats arriving for orientation while a smaller number of Republicans focused on the challenges ahead. Rep. Daniel Biss of Illinois said the country sent a clear message that voters were ready to transform who holds power. Rep. Chris Stigall of Missouri acknowledged the loud message from voters and pledged to work on reconnecting with the base, citing high diesel prices as a key economic concern for farmers in his district.

Stephen Miller, the White House policy architect, assumes the role of chief of staff on Monday. His appointment is expected to mark the start of a more direct confrontation between the executive branch and the incoming Democratic Congress. The collision of incoming and outgoing lawmakers will define the week, as freshmen attend orientation and veterans clear out their offices before the new term begins.