House rejects Hegseth impeachment; 18 lawmakers skip vote

The U.S. House of Representatives defeated a motion to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on November 10, with 211 votes against and 204 in favor. The effort, introduced by Republican Thomas Massie, was blocked by GOP leadership. Eighteen lawmakers did not vote, including eleven Democrats and seven Republicans. Massie was the only Republican to vote for impeachment. The measure was sent to the Judiciary Committee, where it is expected to stall until Democrats take control of Congress in January 2027. Hegseth faced the motion over U.S. military actions in the Middle East and Latin America. President Donald Trump has strongly supported Hegseth, who dismissed the impeachment as a politicized attack. Hegseth's tenure has included pushing out senior officers and criticism over lack of transparency on war costs and casualties.