House Refers Hegseth Impeachment in 211-204 Vote

Caption: Pete Hegseth meets with international defense officials in Cebu, Philippines, October 28, 2026. Credit: U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Brycen Guerrero, via Wikimedia Commons.

The House stopped an immediate impeachment vote against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on November 10, sending a Republican-led resolution to the Judiciary Committee by a 211-204 vote. Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie was the only Republican to join Democrats in opposing the referral.

Hegseth remains defense secretary. The result spared lawmakers a direct vote on the allegations against him, which centered largely on the administration’s war with Iran. It also exposed a divide between dissatisfaction with the secretary’s performance and willingness to pursue his removal.

CBS News reported that Republicans had expressed frustration with Hegseth’s handling of the conflict, now in its ninth month. Many nevertheless did not consider his conduct grounds for impeachment.

A challenge from within the Republican Party

Massie’s resolution accused Hegseth of abuses involving military operations and other Pentagon decisions. The allegations included launching the Iran war without congressional approval and disregarding laws intended to reduce civilian casualties.

Other accusations concerned military boat strikes in the Caribbean, the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and retaliation against Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly. These were allegations in the impeachment proposal, not findings adopted by the House.

Hegseth rejected the effort at a Pentagon news conference earlier Tuesday. He called it a “farce” and a “political spectacle,” arguing that the accusations reflected policy disagreements rather than impeachable offenses.

The party alignment was decisive. Massie’s support for keeping the resolution on the floor did not attract another Republican vote, while the majority backed sending it to committee.

What referral means for the resolution

Tuesday’s action was a procedural decision, not an acquittal or a determination of whether the accusations were true. By referring the resolution, the House avoided immediately voting on impeachment itself.

A House impeachment would have been a separate step from removal. That would require a subsequent Senate conviction. Neither occurred in this case.

CBS News identified only two previous Cabinet secretaries impeached by the House: War Secretary William Belknap in 1876 and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas in 2024. The Senate acquitted Belknap and dismissed the charges against Mayorkas.

The immediate path forward is also constrained by Massie’s departure. He lost his Republican primary earlier this year and is retiring from Congress in January. He said he would not introduce another Hegseth impeachment resolution before leaving.

Democrats could pursue the matter themselves, including when they regain control of both chambers in January, according to CBS News. For the resolution considered Tuesday, however, the House chose committee referral rather than advancing impeachment charges.

References: CBS News - House blocks Massie’s effort to impeach Hegseth