House votes 211-204 to block Hegseth impeachment
Republican defector Thomas Massie’s eight articles failed in a partisan split, leaving a potential new push for the defense secretary to wait until Democrats take control in January.
By Matthew Qureshi ·
A bid to remove Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth from office failed in the House of Representatives on Tuesday. The chamber voted 211 to 204 against sending eight articles of impeachment to a committee. This result effectively ended the current effort to hold the secretary accountable. The margin of victory for the resolution was just seven votes, with 11 Democrats absent from the floor.
Outgoing Representative Thomas Massie, the only Republican to support the measure, introduced the articles on Monday. He accused Hegseth of committing high crimes and misdemeanors. The charges focused on military actions in Iran, Venezuela, and Yemen. Massie expressed disappointment in his party colleagues after the vote. He stated that they knew the situation was failing but chose to remain in their positions.
The political landscape shifts in January when Democrats assume control of both chambers of Congress. This change follows the midterm elections held last week. Analysts link the Republican defeat to voter dissatisfaction with the ongoing Middle East conflict. A new impeachment attempt could launch once the new leadership takes office.
President Donald Trump reacted swiftly to the vote on Truth Social. He declared the effort a miserable failure and labeled Massie a major loser. Trump defended Hegseth by citing recruitment numbers. He claimed the secretary oversaw the best recruitment figures in military history, which have created long waiting lists for service.
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell characterized the outcome as a total victory. He described the articles as baseless and a political exercise lacking evidence. In contrast, incoming House Speaker Hakeem Jeffries criticized the secretary before the vote. Jeffries called Hegseth the architect of a reckless war in Iran and said he abused his power to undermine national security.
Hegseth dismissed the impeachment process as a political spectacle driven by ego and resentment. He maintained that his orders to US forces were lawful. The secretary asserted that history will judge the Iran war differently than current public opinion. His position contrasts with the view that his unpopularity contributed to the recent electoral losses.
