House Republicans in the United States blocked the attempt to impeach Pete Hegseth

The Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives voted Tuesday to send back to the Judiciary Committee the articles of impeachment filed against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The decision blocks, at least for the time being, debate on the House floor and effectively ends the effort in the current legislative session.

The resolution was approved by 211 votes to 204. Thomas Massie, a Republican from Kentucky and the procedure's initiator, was the only member of his party to vote against sending it back. The Republican-led committee can keep the case pending until the next Congress is constituted in January 2027.

Massie accuses Hegseth of violating the War Powers Resolution by conducting military operations without congressional authorization and of ordering illegal actions. The accusations also include overseeing alleged extrajudicial killings in operations against vessels suspected of drug trafficking.

Hegseth called the initiative a “farce” and “sabotage,” while Donald Trump welcomed the outcome of the vote. Democrats, who will take control of both chambers of Congress in January, announced that they would revive the effort. The defense secretary remains in office for now.