WASHINGTON DC: The U.S. House of Representatives has derailed a bid to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Lawmakers voted 211 to 204 to send the articles of impeachment to the House Judiciary Committee, effectively shelving the resolution under the current Republican-controlled Congress.
The resolution was formally introduced on Monday by Representative Thomas Massie (R-KY), accusing Hegseth of conducting unauthorized military operations in Iran and Yemen without explicit approval from Congress.
Key Details of the House Floor Vote
Outcome: The procedural maneuver sends the 34-page resolution into committee, where it is expected to remain inactive for the duration of the current legislative term.
Party Line Breakdown: Massie stood as the sole Republican joining all present Democrats in opposition to referring the resolution to committee.
Impact of Absenteeism: Eleven Democratic representatives were absent during the roll call, providing the Republican majority enough leverage to secure the 211–204 result.
Executive and Congressional Reactions
Pete Hegseth: Speaking at the Pentagon, the Defense Secretary dismissed the impeachment attempt as a "farce," "stunt," and deliberate attempt at political sabotage aimed at undermining administration policy.
Donald Trump: President Donald Trump vigorously defended Hegseth on social media, praising his performance as defense secretary and characterizing the House procedural vote as a full exoneration.
Democratic Leadership: House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and other senior Democrats signaled support for the impeachment articles.
With Democrats set to assume control of the House in January, senior members—including Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez—indicated that congressional oversight, subpoenas, and potential impeachment proceedings regarding Defense Department actions remain under active consideration for the next Congress.
