House Republicans blocked a floor vote on a resolution to impeach War Department Secretary Pete Hegseth, referring the articles to the House Judiciary Committee on November 10.
- The House voted 211 to 204 to send the impeachment resolution to the Judiciary Committee rather than holding a direct floor vote.
- The referral measure received yes votes from 210 Republicans and one independent, while all 203 Democrats present voted no.
- Representative Thomas Massie was the sole Republican to break ranks and vote with Democrats against the referral.
The U.S. House of Representatives voted 211 to 204 on November 10 to send an impeachment resolution targeting War Department Secretary Pete Hegseth to the House Judiciary Committee, Voice of America reported.
Two hundred ten Republicans and one independent supported sending the measure to the committee. All 203 Democrats present cast opposing votes, while 11 members did not participate.
Representative Thomas Massie, the only Republican who aligned with Democrats to oppose the referral, originally introduced the impeachment resolution. Massie brought the action citing allegations of high crimes and misdemeanors against Hegseth.
Massie filed an eight-article impeachment inquiry alleging that Hegseth waged war against Iran without congressional authorization, abused his authority, and committed extrajudicial killings during U.S. military strikes in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific that began last September targeting suspected drug trafficking networks.
Hegseth dismissed the impeachment effort during a Pentagon briefing on November 10, labeling the proceedings a “political stunt” and asserting that the military actions against Iran were “lawful.”
War Department Spokesperson Sean Parnell called the outcome a “complete victory” on X, describing the impeachment push as a baseless action devoid of evidence or seriousness.
Outgoing House Speaker Mike Johnson criticized the impeachment effort prior to the vote, calling Massie a disgruntled lawmaker whose initiative was a publicity stunt. Representative Pete Aguilar argued that the Republican maneuver shielded Hegseth from accountability and maintained that the war secretary should step down.
Representative Brittany Pettersen, who missed the November 10 vote, said that Democrats would pursue Hegseth’s impeachment if they regain the House majority in January. “Neither Johnson nor Trump will be able to stop us,” Pettersen said.
| Vote Outcome | Party Breakdown | Total Tally |
|---|---|---|
| Yes (To Judiciary Committee) | 210 Republicans, 1 Independent | 211 |
| No (Against Referral) | 203 Democrats | 203 |
| Not Voting / Absent | 11 Members | 11 |
Representative Sydney Kamlager-Dove criticized Hegseth as entirely unqualified while also taking issue with absent Democratic colleagues. Trump stated on November 9 that conflicts with Iran were virtually finished militarily, noting that further operations appeared unnecessary though forces remained fully prepared.
