The United States House of Representatives has blocked an immediate attempt to impeach Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, voting to refer the resolution containing eight articles of impeachment to the Republican-led House Judiciary Committee.
The House voted 211 to 204 on Tuesday, November 10, in favour of the referral motion introduced by Republican Congressman Thomas Massie of Kentucky, effectively halting the impeachment effort for the remainder of the current congressional session.
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Massie was the only Republican to vote against the referral, while lawmakers from his party overwhelmingly supported sending the resolution to the committee.
The impeachment effort accused Hegseth of authorising military operations against Iran without congressional approval, including alleged involvement in hostilities lasting more than 90 days.
The resolution also raised allegations concerning US military operations against suspected drug-carrying vessels in the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea.
Massie had argued that the Defence Secretary violated the law and should be held accountable through the impeachment process.
However, the attempt faced significant political obstacles because Republicans controlled the House and continued to support President Donald Trump’s administration.
Reacting to the vote, Trump celebrated the outcome in a post on his Truth Social platform, describing the impeachment effort as a failed attempt against Hegseth.
He also praised the Defence Secretary, calling him a patriot and highlighting what he described as the achievements of the administration’s military policies.
Hegseth had earlier dismissed the impeachment effort as a political stunt, describing it as a “farce” and “sabotage”.
Speaking at a news conference on Tuesday, he accused his critics of using the process to undermine the administration.
Massie expressed disappointment with the outcome but said he was not surprised by the decision.
He criticised lawmakers who supported the referral, arguing that Congress had failed to exercise its oversight responsibilities.
The House Democratic leader, Hakeem Jeffries, also indicated that his party would continue pursuing accountability over the allegations.
“This is not the end of it. It’s just the beginning,” Jeffries said after the vote.
The impeachment resolution was introduced amid disagreements over the Trump administration’s military operations against Iran and the constitutional authority of Congress to approve the use of military force.
The referral means the House did not vote on whether to impeach Hegseth or determine the merits of the allegations.
Instead, lawmakers voted on whether to send the resolution to the Judiciary Committee.
The committee could consider the measure, but the referral effectively ended the immediate effort during the current congressional session.
The issue could return when Democrats assume control of Congress in January following their victories in the November 2026 midterm elections.
However, any renewed impeachment effort would require fresh action by lawmakers.
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The vote leaves Hegseth in office while the political dispute over the administration’s military operations and congressional oversight continues.
Mariam Balogun is a contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, business, and public affairs.
