House Republicans have blocked an effort to impeach US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, turning away articles of impeachment introduced by Republican Representative Thomas Massie.
The legislative move occurred in the House of Representatives following the midterm elections. Representative Massie filed the impeachment resolution on the floor, arguing that the defense secretary violated the constitution by launching military actions against Iran without seeking prior congressional approval.
Instead of advancing to a full vote on the chamber floor, House Republicans secured a majority of votes to send the articles directly to a committee, effectively blocking the immediate impeachment push. The effort faced criticism from lawmakers regarding the handling of the conflict with Iran, which followed midterm election losses where some attributed blame to the war and its economic fallout.
During his first Pentagon news conference in six months, Hegseth forcefully dismissed the impeachment drive as a "farce" and a "political spectacle" rooted in policy disagreements rather than constitutional high crimes. Defending his record, Hegseth maintained that operations against Iran, cartels, and other targets were lawful, fully notified to Congress, and ordered by President Donald Trump. While facing scrutiny from both parties, Hegseth retained strong support from President Trump, who praised his leadership.
