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Corruption & Accountability · Report · File No. 261110-387

House votes 211-204 to shelve Massie's bid to impeach Defense Secretary Hegseth

House Republicans sent the eight-article resolution to committee, which effectively kills it. Democrats could revive the matter when they take control in January.

By the Investigations Desk · · 2 min read

Every quote in this story (1) was matched word for word against its source. How we work

My clippings
Pete Hegseth
Pete Hegseth. Photo: U.S. Department of Defense, Public domain

The House on Tuesday blocked an effort to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The push was led by Rep. Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican, and was largely about the war with Iran 1.

Members voted 211 to 204 to refer the resolution to the Judiciary Committee, which effectively kills it. Massie was the only Republican who voted with all Democrats against that move 1.

On tapeLiveNOW from FOX · Nov 10
House Republicans vote 211-204 to send Massie's Hegseth impeachment resolution to the Judiciary Committee, per LiveNOW from FOX.Video: LiveNOW from FOX on YouTube, “BREAKING: House GOP kills effort to impeach Hegseth”. It plays from YouTube when you press play.

What the resolution alleged

Massie introduced eight articles of impeachment on Monday. They concern the Iran war and other military actions 2. Articles of impeachment are the formal charges.

The resolution accused Hegseth of abusing his office. It said he launched the Iran war without congressional approval and ignored laws meant to limit civilian casualties. It also accused him of directing extrajudicial killings in the Pentagon's Caribbean boat strikes, directing the kidnapping of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, and retaliating against Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly 1. These are allegations. No court or Senate trial has ruled on them.

From Channel GOPMassie reads Hegseth charge: survivors struck, left to dieThomas Massie · 727 plays · captioned, with the source named

Massie filed the measure as a privileged resolution. That means the House had to act on it within two legislative days 2.

Hegseth's response

At a news conference Tuesday morning, Hegseth called the effort a "farce" and "political spectacle" 1. He said the charges were not impeachable offenses.

On tapeForbes Breaking News · Nov 10
Forbes Breaking News reports the House voted to refer Massie's Hegseth impeachment articles back to committee.Video: Forbes Breaking News on YouTube, “BREAKING NEWS: House Republicans Block Thomas Massie's Articles Of Impeachment Against Pete Hegseth”. It plays from YouTube when you press play.
Pete Hegseth
None of these are high crimes or misdemeanors
Pete Hegseth, Defense Secretary1

Republicans have been frustrated with Hegseth's handling of the war, which has stretched into its ninth month. Many of them still did not think his conduct rose to the level of impeachment 1.

What happens next

Massie said Monday he would not bring up another impeachment resolution against Hegseth. He is retiring in early January after losing his primary earlier this year 1.

Democrats could still force the issue, especially once they retake control of both chambers in January 1. The New York Times reports that impeachment resolutions, unlike regular bills, do not expire at the end of a congressional session 2.

If the House did impeach Hegseth, the Senate would hold the trial. Removal takes a two-thirds vote. For a Cabinet member, the vice president presides over that trial 2.

Only two Cabinet secretaries in U.S. history have been impeached. War Secretary William Belknap was impeached in 1876 over a corruption scandal, and the Senate acquitted him. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas was impeached in 2024 over his handling of the southern border, and the Senate dismissed the charges 1. No Cabinet official has ever been removed through impeachment 2.

Analysis: The vote means the House will not take up the eight articles on the record now. The war is in its ninth month, though, and the same charges can come back. The resolution can be revived in January under a Democratic majority.

The Record

  1. Secretary of War William Belknap was impeached over a corruption scandal and later acquitted by the Senate 1.
  2. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas was impeached over his handling of the southern border, and the Senate dismissed the charges 12.
  3. Rep. Thomas Massie introduced eight articles of impeachment against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth 2.
  4. The House voted 211-204 to refer the resolution to the Judiciary Committee, effectively killing it 1.
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Sources

  1. CBS News, “House blocks Massie's effort to impeach Hegseth” (2026-11-10). cbsnews.com/news/massie-hegseth-impeachment/
  2. The Guardian, “What to know about impeachment amid effort to oust US defense secretary Pete Hegseth” (2026-11-10). theguardian.com/us-news/2026/nov/10/pete-hegseth-impeachment

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