House blocks Hegseth impeachment bid with 256 days of Iran war ongoing
Republicans voted down a procedural motion to remove the Defense Secretary, a decision made amid rising partisan tensions over military operations and the war's duration.
By Giulia Donovan ·
The U.S. House of Representatives voted Tuesday to block a procedural resolution that would have moved forward an impeachment inquiry against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The vote stopped the effort led by Kentucky Republican Thomas Massie and supported by House Democrats. This action halts the immediate threat of removing the Pentagon chief from office, though the process could resume when Democrats take control of both chambers in January.
The resolution contains eight articles of impeachment. These focus primarily on the war in Iran, which Massie stated has been underway for 256 days without Congressional authorization. The articles also address military actions in Yemen and Venezuela, as well as alleged staffing cuts in a Pentagon office dedicated to mitigating civilian damage. Massie argued on social media that Hegseth knowingly executed illegal orders, citing the War Powers Act which requires troops to withdraw within 60 days if Congress does not authorize hostilities.
Hegseth held his first Pentagon press conference in six months on Tuesday morning. He described the impeachment effort as sabotage rather than patriotism. "This is not patriotism," Hegseth said. "This is sabotage." He argued that the resolution tells enemies like Iran and cartels that the United States punishes its own soldiers and civilian leaders for successful military operations. He characterized the issues as political disagreements rather than the high crimes and misdemeanors required by the Constitution for impeachment.
President Donald Trump publicly backed Hegseth following the vote. In a post on Truth Social, Trump called the Democratic attempt to impeach Hegseth a resounding failure. He described Hegseth as a great American patriot and credited military victories in Venezuela and Iran for the administration's stance. Trump also noted that Republicans supported the Secretary, with Massie being the notable exception among his party's members.
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who is set to become the first Black speaker of the House, said on Monday that he firmly supports the resolution. Jeffries called Hegseth the architect of the war in Iran. In the Senate, outgoing Iowa Republican Senator Joni Ernst said on Tuesday that she wants to ensure the president receives accurate information from the Pentagon. She questioned whether Hegseth is being honest about the progress of the war.
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson called the effort a political stunt designed to draw attention. He predicted that Republicans would reject the measure in some form. The previous Cabinet secretary to face impeachment was Alejandro Mayorkas under President Joe Biden. The Senate dropped all charges against Mayorkas before arguments began, with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer stating the accusations did not meet the high standard for impeachment.
If the resolution had advanced, the House would have held a final vote on Wednesday. Approval would have sent the matter to the Senate, where a two-thirds majority is required for removal. Massie, who lost his primary in January, remains the primary sponsor of the effort. He stated that the lack of Congressional approval for the Iran conflict constitutes a violation of the law.
