US House blocks bid to impeach Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, for now

What the report says

The US House of Representatives has blocked, for now, an effort to impeach Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth over accusations that he led military action against Iran without congressional approval. The move, led by Republican congressman Thomas Massie of Kentucky, was referred to the House Judiciary Committee in a 211-204 vote, which effectively stopped the impeachment drive from advancing before the current Congress ends. Massie was the only Republican to vote against sending the measure onward, while more than a dozen lawmakers, including 11 Democrats, did not vote.

According to the BBC’s report, the impeachment articles also accused Hegseth of overseeing unlawful killings in the US campaign against suspected drug-trafficking boats in the Pacific and Caribbean. Hegseth rejected the allegations at a Pentagon news briefing, calling the effort a political stunt and a “farce,” and arguing it amounted to sabotage rather than a legitimate constitutional case.

President Donald Trump welcomed the outcome and praised Hegseth in a Truth Social post, calling him a “Great American Patriot.” House Speaker Mike Johnson had expected the effort to fail, and the BBC noted that the short timeline in Congress made success unlikely. The article also says Democrats could revisit impeachment next year when they take control of Congress, meaning the political fight over Hegseth may not be over.