Republicans in the United States (US) House of Representatives blocked an attempt to impeach Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth on Tuesday, preventing the move from advancing to a full House vote despite Democratic support for removing him over his role in the war on Iran.
The House voted 211 to 204 in favour of a procedural motion to refer eight articles of impeachment against Hegseth to the Republican-led House Judiciary Committee. Representative Thomas Massie, who sponsored the impeachment effort, warned that the move would effectively end the proceedings.
Massie, an outgoing Republican from Kentucky, had sought support from fellow Republicans who opposed Hegseth’s policies and expressed concerns over the unpopularity of the war on Iran. However, no other Republican joined him in backing the effort.
Democrats had supported the impeachment push, but 11 members of the party, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, did not participate in the vote. Had eight of them voted against the procedural motion, it would have failed, allowing the impeachment effort to proceed to a full House vote.
The vote came hours after Hegseth dismissed the impeachment effort as a farce and defended his record as head of the US military. President Donald Trump praised his performance, later celebrating the outcome on social media and declaring that the effort to impeach the defence secretary had failed.
Trump also credited Hegseth’s handling of Iran, Venezuela and other issues with what he described as the exoneration of a great American patriot.
Hegseth would have become the first US defence secretary to face impeachment. The last civilian head of the US military to face impeachment was William Belknap in 1876, when the position carried the title of secretary of war.
Hegseth has also referred to himself as the secretary of war, as part of his effort to change the military’s image. Trump cannot formally rename the Defence Department without congressional approval.
The impeachment effort came amid public opposition to the war on Iran, which has reached a stalemate centred on control of the Strait of Hormuz. Anger over the conflict helped Democrats secure control of Congress in last week’s midterm elections.
Vice President JD Vance, who had questioned the conflict and blamed it for the Republicans’ losses in the midterm elections, backed Hegseth ahead of the vote. Vance said that the impeachment effort was not about Iran but about Hegseth challenging the bureaucracy at the Pentagon.
House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries had accused Hegseth of abusing his authority, undermining national security and leading what he described as a costly and reckless war against Iran.
Hegseth has defended the conflict, stating that President of US Donald Trump showed courage in taking action and claiming that Iran’s military capabilities had been left in ruins. He also maintained that his orders to US forces were lawful.
Massie had accused Hegseth of high crimes and misdemeanours, citing the war on Iran and a January US military operation to remove Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
Jeffries said Democrats will discuss whether to launch another impeachment effort when the new Congress takes office. A renewed push could involve hearings and testimony from senior military officials, including generals and admirals whom Hegseth removed from their positions.
Among those dismissed were the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who was Black, and the Navy’s top admiral, a woman. Hegseth has also opposed diversity initiatives at the Pentagon.
Democrats could also raise concerns over US military policy towards Ukraine and strikes on suspected drug-trafficking boats in the Caribbean and Pacific waters.
Meanwhile, some Republicans have expressed concern that Hegseth’s strained relationship with Congress could become a political liability as the Trump administration seeks to increase the military budget from $950 billion to $1.5 trillion.
