House Republicans block effort to impeach Defense Secretary Hegseth

The Republican-controlled House voted 211-204 to send Rep. Thomas Massie’s resolution to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth back to committee, halting the effort for now, though Democrats take control of Congress in January.

The House on Tuesday turned aside a resolution to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, halting an effort to remove the Pentagon chief over his conduct in office and handling of the war in Iran, The Associated Press reported.

The motion to send the matter back to committee succeeded 211-204, with a number of Democrats missing the vote. The resolution, led by Kentucky Republican Rep. Thomas Massie and backed by Democrats, had eight counts, largely focused on the Iran war.

Hegseth, in his first Pentagon news conference in six months, dismissed the effort. “This is not patriotism,” he said. “This is sabotage.” President Donald Trump praised him, calling the vote the exoneration of “a Great American Patriot.”

However, the vote may only delay the push, as Democrats will control the House and Senate in January. House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries said Hegseth has “abused his power” and “undermined America’s national security.”

House Speaker Mike Johnson called the resolution a “political gambit for attention.” Massie said the Iran war “has been underway for 256 days. Congress has not authorized it. Hegseth is breaking the law.”