An attempt to impeach US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over allegations of conducting a war in Iran without congressional authorization has been blocked on Capitol Hill.
A majority in the House of Representatives voted to send the impeachment articles to a committee, effectively halting the initiative brought forward by dissident Republican Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky, at least for the present time.
During his first Pentagon news briefing in six months, Hegseth dismissed the impeachment push as a farce and sabotage.
The effort to find the cabinet official guilty of misconduct and remove him from office was considered a long shot because it would have necessitated support from multiple Republicans willing to defy President Donald Trump.
However, that dynamic could shift in January when the Democratic Party takes control of both congressional chambers following victories in the US midterm elections. At present, Trump's Republican Party maintains the majority.
Following the vote on Tuesday, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries stated that this is not the end of the matter and represents only the beginning.
Lawmakers cast their ballots on whether to refer the resolution to the Republican-led House Judiciary Committee instead of allowing it to advance directly on the House floor.
With the exception of Massie, all Republicans voted in favor of sending the resolution to the committee, resulting in a 211-204 defeat for the congressman's initiative.
This referral effectively terminates the measure due to the limited time remaining in the current session of Congress.
More than a dozen members missed the vote, including 11 Democrats, several of whom attributed their absence to traffic delays.
Several members of the party criticized colleagues who failed to participate.
Democratic Senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed remarked during a CNN interview that individuals should show up and perform their duties, directly addressing those who did not vote. The Michigan lawmaker recently won a Senate race in the state after criticizing US ties to Israel and the conflict in Iran during his campaign.
Meanwhile, Trump celebrated the outcome on Truth Social, declaring that the effort had miserably failed.
Trump credited victories in Venezuela and Iran, record military recruitment numbers with long waiting lists, and exceptional morale for the exoneration of a great American patriot in reference to Hegseth.
According to CBS, Massie stated after the vote that he was not surprised but felt disappointed.
He added that his assessment of Congress is that members understand what actions are required but cannot bring themselves to execute them even when politically beneficial.
Massie had previously conceded that his impeachment effort might not succeed immediately while suggesting it could pressure Trump to replace Hegseth before Democrats initiate their own proceedings.
The Kentucky congressman also noted that removing Hegseth now would grant the Senate sufficient time to confirm a successor while Republicans retain power.
Impeachment resolutions can persist beyond the conclusion of a congressional term, allowing Democrats to pursue the matter next year.
Democrats are scheduled to assume control of both chambers of Congress in January following successful midterm outcomes.
Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson had previously predicted that the impeachment bid would prove unsuccessful.
In the eight articles of impeachment formally presented in the House on Monday, Massie asserted that Hegseth violated the law and must face accountability for prosecuting a war in Iran exceeding 90 days without legislative authorization.
The articles also accused Hegseth of overseeing extrajudicial killings during operations against vessels suspected of drug trafficking in the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea.
During his Tuesday press conference, Hegseth characterized the impeachment push as a political stunt orchestrated by a disgruntled and defeated opponent of the Trump administration.
He further argued that Massie's resolution jeopardized national security by signaling to adversaries that the United States penalizes its warriors and civilian leaders for executing lawful military missions.
Hegseth described the move as sabotage rather than patriotism.
He reiterated points made by Trump during a surprise appearance at the White House briefing room on Monday, including highlights regarding increased military recruitment.
However, Hegseth contended that Massie was driven by policy disagreements rather than high crimes, misdemeanors, treason, bribery, or offenses envisioned by the founders when drafting the impeachment clause.
Massie, who lost his bid for re-election earlier this year to a Trump-supported challenger, has criticized Trump and the Iran conflict since its outbreak in February.
He previously drew presidential anger by demanding the release of documents concerning deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Although Hegseth has maintained his position for now, numerous lawmakers, including some Republicans, have questioned his longevity within the administration.
Republican Senator Ted Cruz of Texas stated on Tuesday that he anticipates Hegseth will either resign or be dismissed by Trump.