House Republicans have blocked Representative Thomas Massie’s effort to impeach War Secretary Pete Hegseth, voting to send the charges to committee. The House voted 211-204 on Tuesday, November 10, to refer eight impeachment articles to the Republican-led Judiciary Committee.
The decision stopped the resolution from reaching its debate and vote.Massie, a Republican from Kentucky, introduced the updated resolution on Monday. It accused Hegseth of abuses of power, including conducting military operations without congressional authorization and violating constitutional limits.
The articles focused heavily on the United States’ war in Iran. They also cited military actions involving Yemen and Venezuela, civilian casualties, and the Pentagon’s scrutiny of lawmakers who urged service members to reject unlawful orders.
Massie argued that the issue concerned legality, not whether lawmakers supported the administration’s military strategy. He maintained that Hegseth’s actions warranted impeachment and a Senate trial.
However, Republicans largely rallied behind the defense secretary. Massie was the only Republican to oppose the motion referring the articles to committee, according to reports.
President Donald Trump had publicly defended Hegseth before the vote. The president praised the secretary’s performance and attacked Massie, while Hegseth described the impeachment push as political sabotage. Earlier Tuesday, Hegseth held a rare Pentagon news conference and defended the administration’s military operations.
He rejected the accusations and called the effort political theatre rather than legitimate oversight.The vote gives Hegseth temporary relief, but it may not end the impeachment dispute. Democrats won control of both chambers in midterm elections and are preparing to take power in January.
Their new majority could revive the effort when the next Congress convenes on January 3, 2027. A simple House majority can approve articles of impeachment, while conviction and removal require a two-thirds Senate vote.
If Democrats pursue the case, Hegseth could become the third Cabinet secretary impeached by the House. William Belknap faced impeachment in 1876, followed by Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas in 2024.
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