An effort to impeach US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth over the war in Iran has been effectively shelved on Capitol Hill, at least for now. A majority of the House of Representatives voted on Tuesday to refer the impeachment articles to a committee, a move that ends the push for the time being.
The resolution was introduced by Thomas Massie, a dissident Republican congressman from Kentucky. The vote was 211-204. Massie was the only Republican to oppose sending the measure to the Republican-led House Judiciary Committee, and more than a dozen members, including 11 Democrats, did not vote.
Committee vote halts the Hegseth impeachment push
The effort was widely seen as a long shot, because it would have required several other Republicans to defy President Donald Trump. House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican, had predicted earlier in the day that the bid would fail.
Also read: House votes on advancing impeachment of Pete Hegseth · Jeffries backs Hegseth impeachment as Democrats eye Trump probes
The eight articles of impeachment, introduced on Monday, argue that Hegseth broke the law by fighting in Iran for more than 90 days without lawmakers’ approval. Massie said he “must be held accountable” for that. The articles also accuse Hegseth of overseeing “extrajudicial killings” in the US campaign against boats allegedly carrying drugs in the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea.
Hegseth and Trump dismiss the impeachment bid
At his first news briefing from the Pentagon in six months, Hegseth called the effort a “farce” and “sabotage”. At a news conference on Tuesday, he described it as a political stunt by a Trump administration opponent who was “disgruntled and defeated”.
Hegseth argued that the resolution endangered national security because it signalled to US adversaries that Washington would punish its own warriors and civilian leaders for carrying out lawful operations. He said Massie was motivated by policy differences rather than the offences the founders had in mind, such as high crimes, treason or bribery.
Trump celebrated the outcome in a post on Truth Social, calling Massie “a major LOSER”. He pointed to victories in Venezuela and Iran and to strong military recruitment, and praised Hegseth as a great American patriot who had been exonerated.
Massie’s strategy and doubts over Hegseth’s future
Massie had acknowledged that his bid might not succeed immediately. He argued it could push Trump to replace Hegseth before Democrats launch their own impeachment process. He also said removing Hegseth now would give the Senate time to approve a successor while Republicans still control Congress.
Impeachment resolutions can carry over beyond the end of a congressional term, meaning Democrats could take the matter up next year. Democrats are set to take control of both chambers of Congress in January, following the midterm election.
Massie lost his re-election bid earlier this year to a Trump-backed opponent. He has been critical of Trump and the Iran war since it began in February, and had already angered the president by demanding that the administration release files on the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Hegseth has survived politically for now, but many lawmakers, including some Republicans, have questioned how long he can remain in the administration. Texas Senator Ted Cruz, a Republican, said on Tuesday that he expected Trump to either force Hegseth to resign or fire him.
