Wednesday, November 11, 2026 - US Republicans have blocked an attempt to impeach Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth over his handling of the ongoing war with Iran, giving the Pentagon chief temporary political relief amid growing scrutiny of the conflict.
On November 10, 2026, the House of Representatives voted 211 to 204 to refer the impeachment resolution to the Republican-led House Judiciary Committee, effectively shelving the effort. The move followed weeks of political pressure over the administration's military operations and allegations that Hegseth exceeded his constitutional authority.
The impeachment initiative was led by Republican Congressman Thomas Massie, who presented eight articles accusing Hegseth of serious misconduct, including launching military operations against Iran without congressional authorisation and failing to adequately protect civilians.
The allegations also referenced US military strikes that reportedly caused significant civilian casualties. Democrats supported the impeachment effort, while Republicans largely defended Hegseth following President Donald Trump's public backing. Massie was the only Republican to vote against referring the resolution to the committee. Hegseth dismissed the accusations as a political stunt and defended his leadership of the US military.
The vote does not settle the wider controversy surrounding the Iran war, which continues to generate political divisions, security concerns and economic pressure, including rising fuel prices. The situation could become more significant when Democrats take control of Congress in January 2027, potentially reopening investigations into the secretary's conduct and the administration's military decisions.
For now, Hegseth remains in office, but questions over congressional oversight, civilian protection and the legal authority to conduct military operations are likely to remain central to the debate in Washington.
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