US House stalls Hegseth impeachment bid in 211–204 vote

Republican congressman Thomas Massie introduced an updated impeachment resolution against US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth in the House of Representatives on 9 November, seeking to force a vote on his conduct in office.

The move follows Massie’s earlier announcement that he planned to bring the resolution when the House returned after the midterm elections. His previous attempt stalled before the election recess.

Massie’s resolution contains eight articles of impeachment. Three accuse Hegseth of violating the War Powers Resolution by directing military operations against Iran without specific congressional authorisation and continuing them after legal deadlines had expired.

The other articles concern allegations over civilian protection, strikes on suspected drug-trafficking boats, the treatment of Senator Mark Kelly, and military operations in Venezuela and Yemen. They are Massie’s allegations, not findings of wrongdoing.

Hegseth told reporters he was not worried about the impeachment effort and defended the administration’s military actions. President Donald Trump has also defended him. House Speaker Mike Johnson, a fellow Republican, warned against impeaching a cabinet secretary while US forces were engaged in hostilities abroad.

Republicans still hold a majority in the current House, and it is unclear how many will support Massie’s resolution. Democrats are expected to back it, according to the Associated Press.

CBS News reported that the new filing starts a two-legislative-day clock for House leaders to bring the matter to a vote. The House could vote to set the resolution aside. If it instead impeaches Hegseth, the case would go to the Senate for a possible trial; impeachment by the House alone would not remove him from office.

Update

The House voted 211 to 204 on Tuesday to refer the resolution to its Judiciary Committee. It did not vote on the impeachment charges themselves. The committee can consider them, but is not obliged to do so, according to Breaking Defense.

House records show that 210 Republicans and one independent voted for referral. Massie was the only Republican to vote against it, alongside 203 Democrats. Eighteen members did not vote.

Massie, a Republican congressman from Kentucky, introduced the resolution on Monday. It contained eight impeachment articles, including allegations that Hegseth conducted hostilities in Iran without congressional authorisation and used Defence Department authority to retaliate against Senator Mark Kelly over his criticism of military orders.

Hegseth rejected the effort at a Pentagon press conference before the vote, calling it a “political spectacle” and saying the operations were lawful. President Donald Trump has backed him.

Democrats are set to take control of both chambers of Congress in January. A renewed impeachment attempt in the next Congress would require a new resolution.