Republicans in the United States House of Representatives have moved to halt an impeachment effort directed at Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, providing a significant legislative reprieve for President Donald Trump following recent midterm election losses. In a vote of 211 to 204, lawmakers opted to refer the impeachment resolution to the House Judiciary Committee. This procedural step effectively canceled a planned floor vote scheduled for Wednesday, which would have determined if formal charges were to be brought against the Pentagon chief.
The resolution was initially introduced by Representative Thomas Massie, who remains an outspoken critic of the President. Massie was the only member of his party to vote against the procedural referral. As Republicans maintain a narrow working majority, the party will control the chamber until January, when Democrats are set to assume power. Notably, eleven Democrats were absent during the Tuesday ballot.
Following the vote, President Trump expressed his continued support for Hegseth on Truth Social, characterizing his performance as an "A PLUS, PLUS, PLUS." Vice-President JD Vance similarly defended the secretary, stating that he had "obviously not" committed any impeachable offenses. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell celebrated the outcome on X, describing it as a "TOTAL VICTORY" and noting that the department looks forward to ending the "sham impeachment" within the committee room.
Earlier on Tuesday, Hegseth held a press briefing where he mounted a fierce defense of his record, labeling the push for his impeachment a "farce," a "stunt," and an act of "sabotage." Responding to accusations from Massie—who had alleged that Hegseth attempted to penalize Democratic Senator Mark Kelly for protected speech—the secretary remained defiant. "I stand behind every one of these operations. I was proud to execute them, and I would do it again tomorrow," Hegseth stated. While the current referral effectively stalls the immediate impeachment drive, Democrats could potentially revive the proceedings after they take control of the House in January. Representative Massie, who lost his primary to a candidate backed by Trump, is slated to leave office at the end of his current term.
