House Republicans voted 211-204 on Tuesday to refer a resolution to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to the House Judiciary Committee, effectively ending the immediate push for impeachment. The measure, led by outgoing GOP Rep. Thomas Massie, faced strong opposition from House Speaker Mike Johnson and the Republican conference. Simultaneously, Senate Republicans reelected John Thune as their leader by acclamation, while House Republicans elected Rep. Jim Jordan as Minority Leader, defeating Majority Leader Steve Scalise 106-73.
The vote to refer the Hegseth resolution meant that Rep. Massie was the only Republican to vote with all Democrats against the referral. The impeachment effort centered on Hegseth’s role in the war with Iran, strikes in the Caribbean, and the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. In the Senate, the leadership elections concluded without dissent for Thune, who outlined plans to extend the legislative session to process nominees and fund the government.
What the Left Is Saying
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer expressed confidence in his position following the Republican leadership votes. "I'm confident I will be elected majority leader," Schumer told reporters during a press conference at the Capitol, referencing his tenure as the top Senate Democrat for nearly a decade.
House Democratic leaders adopted a hands-off approach to the Hegseth vote. Rep. Pete Aguilar, chair of the House Democratic Caucus, stated that the party was not whipping votes on the impeachment resolution. "It's not being whipped," Aguilar said. "Members are going to have to make their own decisions based on the articles of impeachment. We didn't put our finger on the scale."
While Aguilar and House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries indicated they would vote to impeach, the lack of party leadership pressure allowed individual members to decide based on their district's preferences. This strategy avoided forcing a unified party line on a complex issue involving executive war powers and military conduct.
What the Right Is Saying
House Speaker Mike Johnson characterized the vote to table the impeachment resolution as a necessary step to move past what he called an "impeachment gambit." "We have the votes," Johnson said before the vote. "We'll dispense with the impeachment gambit." After the leadership elections, Johnson praised incoming Minority Leader Jim Jordan, noting, "It is easier to keep a group together when you're in the minority."
Rep. Jim Jordan, who defeated Steve Scalise for the top GOP House post, framed his victory as a commitment to fighting for American families. "Over the next two years, House Republicans will fight for American families. When Democrats offer more government, we'll offer more freedom," Jordan said in a brief statement. "And we will bring that fight in committee, on the floor and on the stump every single day."
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, reelected without opposition, emphasized urgency in concluding the current legislative session. He stated the conference is committed to "finish this legislative session strong," focusing on moving judicial and executive branch nominees and funding the government. Thune noted the need to "make the most of the time that we've got" by extending the calendar and work days.
What the Numbers Show
The House vote to refer the Hegseth impeachment resolution to committee passed 211-204. Rep. Thomas Massie was the sole Republican voting against the referral, joining all Democrats in opposition.
In the House Republican leadership election, Rep. Jim Jordan defeated Majority Leader Steve Scalise by a vote of 106-73. Rep. Tom Emmer won reelection as GOP whip, defeating a challenge from Rep. August Pfluger. In the Senate, Republicans elected John Thune as leader by acclamation, with no dissenters reported. Sen. John Barrasso was reelected as whip, Sen. Tom Cotton as conference chair, and Sen. Shelley Moore Capito as policy chair.
The impeachment resolution against Hegseth contained eight articles, including charges of waging war in contravention of the War Powers Resolution of 1973, ignoring laws minimizing civilian casualties, extrajudicial killings, and the kidnapping of a sovereign foreign leader. House Republicans lost more than 40 seats in the recent elections, a factor cited in the leadership shakeup.
The Bottom Line
The failure of the Hegseth impeachment effort signals that House Republicans are prioritizing unity and leadership transitions over internal challenges to cabinet officials in the immediate term. The election of Jim Jordan as Minority Leader marks a shift toward a more hard-line conservative approach in the House GOP, while John Thune's uncontested reelection in the Senate suggests stability in the upper chamber's leadership.
With the impeachment resolution referred to committee, further action on Hegseth is unlikely before the new Congress convenes. The focus now shifts to the transition period, with outgoing Sen. Joni Ernst and Sen.-elect Josh Turek meeting to discuss the handover of Iowa's Senate seat. Democrats are preparing to take control of the House, while Republicans maintain their Senate majority, setting the stage for divided governance in the upcoming session.