Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has survived an impeachment attempt after House Republicans blocked a resolution accusing him of misconduct involving U.S. military operations overseas.
The House voted 211-204 on Tuesday to send the measure to committee, effectively ending the effort for now.
Rep. Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican and outspoken critic of President Donald Trump, introduced the resolution over Hegseth’s handling of the war in Iran and military actions in Yemen, Venezuela and the Caribbean.
Massie was the only Republican to vote alongside Democrats against shelving the measure.
“Hegseth has violated the norms of war, and it’s to the disadvantage and the dishonor of our country, and to the danger of our soldiers in future conflicts,” Massie argued.
Hegseth fired back during a Pentagon news conference earlier Tuesday, dismissing the impeachment effort as politically motivated.
“It’s a farce, and it’s a stunt and everybody knows it,” he declared.
The defense secretary maintained that the military operations in question were lawful and defended his loyalty to Trump.
“If standing with President Trump puts me in that company, I’ll take that company every day of the week,” Hegseth said, referencing Trump’s previous impeachments.
Trump quickly backed his Cabinet member, awarding him an “A PLUS, PLUS, PLUS” on Truth Social.
Although Hegseth remains in office, Democrats could revisit his conduct when they assume control of the House in January. Hakeem Jeffries, who will most likely be named House of Representatives Speaker that month, has already said that he’s a “hard yes” on impeacing Hegseth.