House votes 211-204 to shelve Massie's bid to impeach Hegseth

How they voted: Massie, R-Ky., was the only Republican to vote against sending his resolution to committee, and all Democrats present voted to move ahead, CBS News and Fox News reported. GOP leaders had worried that absences after last week's midterm losses could let the measure through, Fox reported, but Republican attendance held.

The charges: Massie's eight articles accused Hegseth of launching the Iran war without congressional authorization, ignoring laws meant to limit civilian casualties, directing what Massie called "extrajudicial killings" in strikes on suspected drug boats in the Caribbean, directing the operation that seized Venezuela's Nicolás Maduro, and retaliating against Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., among other allegations, according to CBS News.

Hegseth's response: At a Pentagon news conference Tuesday morning, Hegseth called the effort a "farce" and "political spectacle." "None of these are high crimes or misdemeanors," he said, per CBS. "They're partisan policy disagreements from people who want to politicize our military." He also called it "a personal manifesto driven by ego and resentment" from "one disgruntled and defeated congressman," Fox reported.

Trump's reaction: President Trump wrote on Truth Social that the attempt to impeach Hegseth "has miserably FAILED," called the result the "EXONERATION of a Great American Patriot," and called Massie a "major LOSER," according to Fox News.

Republican critics still said no: Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., told reporters, "I'm personally not a fan of the secretary. I don't think he was the right guy in the job. But, also, when you read Massie's impeachment, I don't agree with it." Rep. Warren Davidson, R-Ohio, who opposes U.S. involvement in Iran, said the effort was "an effort to scapegoat Pete Hegseth" for decisions made by Congress and the president, Fox reported. CBS reported that many Republicans frustrated with the war, now in its ninth month, did not think Hegseth's conduct rose to impeachment.

What referral means: Sending a resolution to committee does not decide its merits, but it takes the measure off the House floor, averting the impeachment vote that Massie's privileged resolution could have forced as soon as Wednesday, Fox News reported. Massie, who lost his primary and leaves Congress in early January, said Monday he would not file another resolution, according to CBS.

What comes next: Democrats could bring up impeachment again when they take control of both chambers in January, CBS reported, and Axios wrote they are all but guaranteed to force the issue. Only two Cabinet secretaries have ever been impeached: Secretary of War William Belknap in 1876, who was acquitted, and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas in 2024, whose charges the Senate dismissed.

How outlets framed it: Fox News and CBS both described the referral as effectively killing the resolution; Fox led with GOP leaders blocking Massie's push, while CBS and Axios stressed that the reprieve may be temporary once Democrats hold the majority.

The vote count, time and resolution number come from the House Clerk's official roll call. Quotes from Hegseth, Trump, Rep. Don Bacon, Rep. Warren Davidson and Rep. Jake Ellzey follow Fox News and CBS News; the outlook for a renewed effort follows CBS News and Axios. The impeachment articles are Massie's allegations, not findings, and sending them to committee is not a ruling on their merits. Outlet lean, for transparency: Fox News is generally seen as right-leaning; AP, CBS News and Axios are listed without a tag.