Democrats Plan Musk and Miller Probes as Jeffries Backs Impeaching Hegseth After Midterm Rout

WASHINGTON — House Democrats will use their new midterm majority to investigate two powerful figures in President Donald Trump's orbit — billionaire Elon Musk and White House chief of staff Stephen Miller — while the party's incoming Speaker backed impeaching Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The announcements came on the Sunday talk shows, five days after Democrats swept both chambers of Congress in the November 3 midterm elections.

Rep. Robert Garcia of California, in line to chair the House Oversight Committee when Democrats take control in January, told CNN's "State of the Union" that Musk and Miller will be among its first targets. House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, set to become Speaker in January, told ABC's "This Week" that he would support impeaching Hegseth — a "hard yes."

Key Points

• Garcia said Sunday that Elon Musk and Stephen Miller will likely face House Oversight probes when Democrats take control in January.
• The Musk inquiry would examine his role in the Department of Government Efficiency firings; the Miller inquiry, the immigration crackdown.
• Hakeem Jeffries said he is a "hard yes" on impeaching Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, backing Rep. Thomas Massie's plan to reintroduce articles.
• Jeffries cited Hegseth's oversight of the Iran war, which he said has driven up gas prices.
• Attorney General Todd Blanche said the administration is ready to fight the probes: "If you work in this administration, you have a lawyer. It's me."

What Happened

Garcia laid out the committee's priorities on CNN. Musk will face scrutiny over his involvement in the Department of Government Efficiency, the operation that fired tens of thousands of federal workers last year. Miller, the architect of the immigration policy and now the president's chief of staff, will face questions about a crackdown Garcia called "horrific" and "unjust."

On ABC, Jeffries went further. Asked about Hegseth, he said Democrats would support a measure to impeach the defense secretary. Rep. Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican, has said he will reintroduce articles of impeachment against Hegseth soon.

"Pete Hegseth has got to go," Jeffries said. "I believe there will be incredibly strong support for that resolution." He blamed Hegseth's oversight of the Iran war, now in its ninth month, for driving up gas prices. The administration responded within hours: Attorney General Todd Blanche said the White House is prepared to fight. "If you work in this administration, you have a lawyer. It's me," Blanche said.

Background: How Democrats Won the Power to Investigate

Democrats won control of both the House and the Senate on November 3, ending two years of unified Republican control. The results gave them the gavels — and the subpoena power — of every House committee. Jeffries is expected to be elected Speaker when the new Congress convenes in January, while Garcia is in line to take over the Oversight Committee, the House's main investigative arm.

Democrats have already signalled a broad agenda, including investigations into the Trump family's business dealings, the Epstein files, and the Iran war. Sunday's announcements add two more names and shift the focus to the people running the government. The move is notable because Jeffries said last week that impeaching President Trump was not a priority; Hegseth is a target whose war decisions can be challenged on their own merits.

Democrats Plan Musk and Miller Probes

The planned investigations would take aim at two very different kinds of power. Musk has never held a Senate-confirmed office, but his role in the Department of Government Efficiency gave him extraordinary influence over the federal workforce. Democrats say the firings showed little regard for civil service law, and they want documents and testimony for workers who lost their jobs.

Miller's case is different. As the architect of the administration's immigration policy, he has been at the center of the deportation campaign and the detention system that Democrats say has violated due process. His promotion to White House chief of staff last week made him the most powerful aide in the administration, and Democrats say that makes oversight more urgent.

The probes would also test congressional power. The administration has signalled it will resist, and Blanche's remarks suggest the Justice Department will fight subpoenas and document requests. Democrats say they are prepared for court battles. A Reuters/Ipsos poll in October found only 37 percent approved of Trump's handling of immigration, down from 50 percent when he took office.

Reactions and Quotes

"Stephen Miller is at the center of the major policy decisions that are happening in the administration, and so it does deserve oversight and investigation," Garcia said on CNN's "State of the Union."

Jeffries, on ABC's "This Week," was equally direct: "Pete Hegseth has got to go. I believe there will be incredibly strong support for that resolution."

Blanche, responding for the administration, warned: "If you work in this administration, you have a lawyer. It's me."

Why It Matters

The planned probes will define the next two years of American politics. A Democratic Congress with subpoena power can force the administration to defend its most controversial decisions in public — hearings and testimony that will shape the 2028 presidential race. The Hegseth impeachment push matters differently: if it succeeds in the House, it would be the first time a defense secretary has been impeached over the conduct of a war. Even if the Senate acquits him, the trial would put the Iran war itself on trial — its costs, its legality, and its effect on families at the pump.

For Musk, the probe carries personal risk: his business empire depends heavily on federal contracts. For Miller, the stakes are institutional: as chief of staff, he is the gatekeeper to the president, and an investigation of his immigration record would reach into the White House.

What Happens Next

The new Congress convenes in January, and the investigations are expected to begin quickly. Garcia's Oversight Committee will likely send its first document requests within weeks of taking the gavel. Massie's impeachment articles could come sooner: Jeffries' endorsement suggests the resolution could reach the House floor early in the new session. If it passes, the Senate would be required to hold a trial.

The administration is preparing its defense, likely involving executive privilege claims and court fights over congressional power. The quiet period is over. Read our earlier report on the Hegseth impeachment vote, how Democrats are gearing up for the immigration fight, and the sweeping investigations Democrats planned after winning Congress.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who will Democrats investigate first?
Incoming House Oversight chair Robert Garcia said Sunday that Elon Musk and Stephen Miller will likely be among the first targets when Democrats take control in January.

Why is Stephen Miller a target?
Garcia called Miller the architect of a "horrific, unjust" immigration policy, at "the center of the major policy decisions" in the administration.

Will Pete Hegseth be impeached?
Jeffries said Sunday he is a "hard yes," backing Rep. Thomas Massie's plan to reintroduce articles of impeachment. The House would need a majority vote, then the Senate would hold a trial.

When do the investigations start?
The new Congress convenes in January 2027. Garcia's committee is expected to send its first requests within weeks, and Massie's articles could be reintroduced sooner.