Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has avoided an impeachment vote after Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson called an early recess, canceling votes scheduled for Thursday.
Hegseth’s political future was put in harm’s way after Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY.), a frequent critic of President Donald Trump critic who lost his primary earlier this year to a Trump-endorsed challenger, introduced articles of impeachment on the House floor on Tuesday citing the defense secretary’s management of the war in Iran and stewardship of the Pentagon.
He introduced the resolution as privileged, which under House rules forces a floor vote within two legislative days.
A vote was scheduled to take place Thursday, but that won’t occur after Johnson told reporters on Wednesday that he was modifying the schedule because “the House has done its work.”
“And there it is. Just as I predicted. They’re canceling Congress tomorrow to avoid the vote on IMPEACHING @SecWar,” Massie wrote on X in response to the recess.
Johnson, who claimed that the House had been productive in terms of passing legislation, said he wanted members to return to their districts and spend time with constituents ahead of the November midterm elections.
He also called Massie’s impeachment resolution “a publicity stunt by someone who wants attention.”
“It’s a stunt. Secretary Hegseth has done an extraordinary job, the Department of War. We’re in the middle of international conflicts right now, and we should not be playing games with national security. And I think that’s how the members see this,” Johnson said.
A War With No Current End
The United States’ military operation began on Feb. 28 and is approaching the seven-month mark without ongoing negotiations or a resolution.
This has caused concerns among lawmakers and voters alike about mounting costs and economic repercussions felt at home with rising inflation, notably with the midterm elections looming and the costs of everyday items like gas and groceries continuing to take center stage on campaign trails.
“By engaging in hostilities in Iran for more than 90 days without congressional authorization, Secretary Hegseth is breaking the law and must be held accountable,” Massie, a member of the House Judiciary Committee, said Tuesday. “Secretary Hegseth’s constitutional violations extend beyond the illegal war in Iran.
While Johnson touted legislative achievements, Americans may disagree.
A national University of Massachusetts Amherst Poll published Sept. 3 and conducted between Aug. 21 and 26 found that just 22% of the 1,000 respondents approve of the way Congress is doing its job. A plurality of 41% said they strongly disapprove of Congress’s performance.
Massie received support from others across the aisle.
“I think it shows the cowardice of the Republican Party. They are canceling votes to do business for the American people because they are afraid that that impeachment resolution of Pete Hegseth would pass on a bipartisan basis,” Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), told progressive news outlet MediasTouch.
Next Steps and Historical Precedent
House Democrats introduced their own articles earlier this year over the Iran war and other matters. However, those measures were referred to committee and never reached a floor vote.
Historically, only two Cabinet secretaries have ever been impeached by the House: War Secretary William Belknap in 1876, and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas in 2024.
No defense secretary has been impeached.
Congress is now in recess until November. Then, if the House approved articles of impeachment, it would not immediately remove Hegseth from office as impeachment requires a two-thirds vote in the U.S. Senate to convict.
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