The House voted to refer the articles of impeachment against Secretary of War Pete Hegseth to committee, effectively killing the legislation. 

On Tuesday, the House voted, 211-204, in favor of a motion to refer Republican congressman’s articles of impeachment against Hegseth to committee. While multiple sources had reported that Massie had secured enough Republican support to impeach Hegseth, the Kentucky Congressman was the only GOP member to vote against the motion. 

However, with seven Republicans not voting, the motion could be defeated if all Democrats voted against it. Eleven Democrats also did not vote, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. If the 11 absent Democrats had voted against referral, the result would have been 211–215, defeating the motion

The articles will now go to the House Judiciary Committee, where the impeachment will likely remain until the session of Congress ends at the end of the year. 

Massie accused Hegseth of giving unlawful orders in the war against Iran. Congress has not passed any legislation approving the US to wage war against Iran. The Constitution requires the executive to receive a declaration of war from Congress before starting a war. 

Massie first introduced the articles in September, but Speaker Mike Johnson canceled the House’s final scheduled legislative day before the midterms, preventing a vote. 

While Hegseth survived the House vote, it’s possible he will be fired by President Donald Trump. Last week, Axios reported that Hegseth is on “thin ice” with Trump. “Hegseth is definitely on thin ice,” a Trump adviser told Axios. “It doesn’t mean the president forces him out. But there are complications.” Sources speaking with the outlet described Hegseth as the most “gung-ho” member of the administration for the war before the US and Israel attacked Iran in February. 

Vice President JD Vance pointed to the war against Iran as one of the primary reasons the Republicans lost dozens of seats in the House and Senate during the midterm elections. 

“Tonight would have looked very different without the Iran war,” one administration official told Axios following the midterm elections. “I believe you’ll ultimately see POTUS hold Pete Hegseth accountable, and that will play out in the lame duck.”