Lawmakers effectively stopped the push spearheaded by Republican Representative Thomas Massie and supportive Democrats by burying the charges in committee. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth vehemently defended his military record, specifically justifying operations in Iran and a January mission targeting Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. While President Donald Trump applauded Hegseth's defiance, incoming Democratic leadership continues to blast his handling of foreign conflicts. The delay sets the stage for a potential renewed clash once the new congressional majority takes power next year.
Key points
Procedural maneuvering successfully shielded Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth from facing a…: Procedural maneuvering successfully shielded Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth from facing a historic congressional impeachment trial.
Backlash over military operations in Iran and Venezuela fueled the bipartisan push to rem…: Backlash over military operations in Iran and Venezuela fueled the bipartisan push to remove the Pentagon chief.
Democrats could revive the impeachment drive against Hegseth after they assume the House…: Democrats could revive the impeachment drive against Hegseth after they assume the House majority in the upcoming year.
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WASHINGTON: The Republican-led US House of Representatives moved on Tuesday (Nov 10) to effectively block an effort to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, buying more time for the polarising Pentagon chief before Democrats take control of Congress next year and possibly try again.
The vote on a procedural motion came just hours after Hegseth blasted efforts to impeach him as a farce and delivered a defiant defence of his record at the helm of the Pentagon, winning praise from President Donald Trump.
Republicans passed a motion to refer eight articles of impeachment to the Judiciary Committee, a move that the sponsor of the impeachment push, US Representative Thomas Massie, warned would kill it.
Massie, an outgoing Kentucky Republican, hoped to draw votes from Republicans upset with Hegseth's policies and wary of the unpopularity of the Iran war. Democrats had voiced strong support for the impeachment effort and they tried to help Massie clear the way for an impeachment vote.
Hegseth would have been the first US defence secretary to be impeached. The last time any civilian leader of the US…
Incoming Republican majorities reorganized their ranks following midterm setbacks by elevating new and returning figures to head their respective chambers. Concurrently, the party largely held together to deflect a rebel conservative effort seeking to remove the Pentagon's top civilian official over controversial foreign operations. These maneuvers illustrate the GOP's internal alignments as members prepare for the upcoming legislative session under President Trump.
Congressional leaders are preparing an aggressive health care oversight agenda ahead of taking control of their committees in January. Lawmakers are focusing their scrutiny on arrangements designed to tether Medicaid drug costs to international benchmarks. This push signals that the previous administration's private pacts with the pharmaceutical industry will face strict legislative accountability.
House lawmakers blocked a formal reprimand against the Pentagon chief by sending the matter to a committee controlled by his party. The maneuver serves as an effective shutdown of the challenge brought against the cabinet official. Party lines largely held during the Tuesday proceedings, shielding the leadership appointee from further floor action.