U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is set to spend the weekend in Texas — meeting with tech companies in Austin, swearing in recruits and capping it off at a Texas A&M football game.
The Department of War (formerly the Department of Defense) announced on Sept. 17
that Hegseth would visit two Austin-based companies, Capital Factory and Saronic Technologies, on Sept. 18 as part of the department's Arsenal of Freedom Tour.While visiting the two tech companies, Hegseth will deliver remarks to the employees and company leaders and later administer the oath of enlistment to new recruits at the Austin Armed Forces Reserve Center.
On Sept. 19, Hegseth will deliver remarks to the Corps of Cadets at Texas A&M University in College Station and tour the Veterans
Resource Center, part of the department's Send Me Tour.
He is also set to attend the Texas A&M vs. University of Kentucky football game at 2:30 p.m. CT that same day, where the university will honor prisoners of war and those missing in action.
His Texas visit comes after a Republican congressman launched an impeachment effort against the secretary over the Iran war and the House went on recess.
Hegseth faces impeachment push over Iran war as House leaves early
Kentucky Republican Rep. Thomas Massie introduced articles of impeachment on Sept. 15 against Hegseth over the Iran war.
In a speech introducing the articles, Massie accused Hegseth of betraying his oath of office, abusing his powers as a military leader and violating the Constitution by continuing to oversee military operations in the Iran war without congressional approval.
"This abuse of office frustrated Congress' ability to exercise its most solemn constitutional responsibility," Massie said.
However, the House went home a day early for a roughly eight-week recess. Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters Sept. 16 that the decision to leave Washington earlier than planned was unrelated to Massie's push to remove Hegseth.
Mateo Rosiles is the Texas Connect reporter for USA TODAY and its regional papers in Texas. Got a news tip for him? Email him at mrosiles@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Pete Hegseth visits Austin tech firms, Texas A&M amid impeachment bid
