Republicans Block Pete Hegseth Impeachment Bid in US House
Republicans Block Impeachment Bid Against US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth
US House votes 211-204 to refer eight impeachment charges against Hegseth to the Judiciary Committee, effectively halting the effort led by Republican Congressman Thomas Massie.
WASHINGTON, November 11, 2026: US Republicans in the House of Representatives have blocked an attempt to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, voting instead to refer the allegations against him to the House Judiciary Committee.
The motion passed by 211 votes to 204, preventing the impeachment effort from advancing to a formal vote.
Republican Congressman Thomas Massie had introduced eight impeachment charges against Hegseth, accusing him of authorising unlawful military operations involving Iran and Yemen, ordering attacks on boats in the Caribbean Sea, and participating in the operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in January.
Massie Stands Alone Among Republicans
According to Reuters, Massie was the only Republican who opposed sending the impeachment allegations to the Judiciary Committee. He had urged fellow Republicans to support his effort, warning that referring the charges to the committee would effectively end the impeachment process.
However, no other Republican joined him in opposing the motion.
Hegseth had dismissed the impeachment effort as ridiculous just hours before the vote, while President Donald Trump publicly praised his performance as defence secretary.
Trump later welcomed the House decision, describing the impeachment attempt as a major failure and calling Hegseth a great American patriot.
Democratic Absences Become a Factor
Democrats supported the impeachment allegations, but 11 members did not participate in the vote, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Pelosi’s spokesperson, Ian Krager, said she was in San Francisco attending an annual event honouring military veterans. He added that she would otherwise have voted against the motion.
According to the report, eight additional Democratic votes could have changed the outcome and potentially allowed the impeachment process to proceed.
Iran War Fuels Political Pressure
The vote comes amid growing public dissatisfaction with the eight-month-old war involving Iran. The conflict reportedly played a significant role in the Democrats’ gains in last week’s midterm elections.
A Reuters/Ipsos survey indicated that most Americans want the new Democratic-majority Congress to take steps towards ending the war with Iran.
Vice President JD Vance also defended Hegseth, arguing that the dispute was not primarily about Iran but about the defence secretary’s efforts to challenge the Pentagon bureaucracy.
Democrats May Launch Further Investigations
Democrats could pursue renewed scrutiny of Hegseth when they assume control of Congress in January.
Potential areas of investigation include Pentagon policy towards Ukraine, military strikes against suspected drug-smuggling vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific, and the dismissal of senior military officials.
Hegseth has also faced criticism over his opposition to diversity initiatives within the military.
The political controversy comes as the Trump administration seeks to increase US military spending from $950 billion to $1.5 trillion, with tensions between Hegseth and members of Congress potentially complicating the administration’s agenda.
A Historic Impeachment Bid
Had the effort succeeded, Hegseth would have become the first US defence secretary to face impeachment proceedings. The previous comparable case involved Secretary of War William Belknap, who was impeached in 1876.
Massie expressed disappointment following the vote, comparing Republican lawmakers to passengers aboard the sinking Titanic, arguing that they recognised the political crisis but remained unwilling to change course.
The failed impeachment effort, however, does not necessarily end congressional scrutiny of Hegseth, particularly as Democrats prepare to take control of the House.
