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House Republicans Block Impeachment Bid Against Pete Hegseth — AI-generated representative image: The US Capitol, where House Republicans voted to refer the impeachment resolution against Pete Hegseth to the Judiciary Commi

Editorial Team

Resolution referred to committee, stalling the effort until Democrats take control of Congress in January

The Republican-controlled US House of Representatives voted 211-204 on Tuesday to block an attempt to impeach War Secretary Pete Hegseth, referring the resolution to the Judiciary Committee where the party holds a majority and effectively shelving the initiative until the next Congress convenes.

Outgoing Representative Thomas Massie reintroduced eight articles of impeachment against Hegseth earlier this week over his handling of the conflict with Iran and other military operations, following the Democrats' victory in the November 3 midterm elections.

The vote underscores the deep partisan divide over US military actions under the Trump administration, including the unpopular Iran conflict that has disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and driven energy prices sharply higher.

With Democrats set to control both chambers beginning in January, the impeachment effort is widely expected to be revived next year, when the party gains the power to formally investigate Hegseth's military operations.

Impeachment Resolution Referred to Committee

Massie has accused Hegseth of violating the 1973 War Powers Resolution by waging war against Iran without congressional authorization and failing to minimize civilian casualties during US strikes. He also denounced the 2025 US strikes on Yemen and the January abduction of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro as illegal, while accusing Hegseth of ordering extrajudicial killings of suspected drug traffickers in the Caribbean and Pacific.

The Pentagon chief's military operations have drawn fierce criticism from Democrats and some Republicans. Massie had first introduced the impeachment articles in September, but the initiative stalled after Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson canceled the chamber's remaining votes ahead of the midterms.

Background of the Iran Conflict

The conflict at the center of the impeachment effort was triggered by a joint US-Israeli attack on Iran on February 28, an operation Massie has described as "unlawful from its inception." The war has sent energy prices soaring by disrupting shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a key global oil and LNG route.

The Democrats' midterm victory has been widely seen as a rebuke of President Donald Trump's policies, particularly the Iran war. The party will gain the power to investigate Hegseth when it takes control of Congress in January, and Massie warned on Monday that his renewed impeachment effort was a "much gentler version" of what could follow under Democratic leadership.

Official Responses

Hegseth dismissed the impeachment effort as a "farce" and a "political spectacle" during a Pentagon press conference on Tuesday. He rejected the accusations and defended the military operations, stating: "I stand behind every one of these operations. I was proud to execute them, and I would do it again tomorrow."

Trump has fiercely defended the Pentagon chief, branding Massie a "total loser" and praising Hegseth as "perhaps the most popular and successful military official in the country." On Monday, the president reaffirmed his support, telling reporters: "I'll stand by him." Following Hegseth's press conference on Tuesday, Trump gave his performance an "A PLUS, PLUS, PLUS."

What Comes Next

With Republicans retaining control of both chambers until the end of the year, it is highly unlikely the impeachment measure will advance before the current congressional term expires. The resolution now sits with the Judiciary Committee, where the Republican majority is expected to take no further action.

When Democrats assume control of Congress in January, they are positioned to pursue formal investigations into Hegseth's military operations and potentially revive the impeachment effort.