The U.S. House of Representatives voted to shelve impeachment proceedings targeting U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, effectively derailing the legislative effort shortly after it was introduced. The vote took place following a congressional return that followed the midterms, bringing immediate legislative friction over administration policies.
Republican Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky filed the articles of impeachment on Monday, arguing that Hegseth violated the Constitution by failing to seek congressional approval for the U.S. military's war against Iran. Massie advanced the resolution from the House floor during the opening session of the lame-duck period.
Addressing reporters at his first Pentagon news conference in six months, Hegseth sharply defended his leadership and characterized the impeachment push as a "farce" and an act of "sabotage" driven by policy disagreements rather than constitutional violations. President Donald Trump similarly backed his defense secretary, granting his performance high marks while the administration pushed back against the bipartisan criticism stemming from the conflict.
With the House voting to shelve the resolution, the immediate threat to Hegseth's position in the Trump administration has been neutralized, closing out a dramatic opening to the post-midterm congressional session.
