WASHINGTON, November 11. /Dunyo IA/. The U.S. House of Representatives has rejected an impeachment initiative against Defence (War) Secretary Pete Hegseth over his actions in military operations involving Iran, as well as Yemen, Venezuela and countries in the Caribbean, reports Dunyo IA correspondent, citing NBC News.

By a vote of 211 to 204, lawmakers voted to refer the impeachment resolution to a committee, effectively blocking its further progress.

The initiative was introduced by Republican Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky, a vocal critic of the Donald Trump administration. He accused secretary of violating the laws of war, arguing that his actions damage the reputation of the United States and put American service members at risk in future conflicts. He was also the only Republican to vote alongside Democrats in favour of advancing the resolution.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, a Democrat from New York, said his party would seek to remove Pete Hegseth from office after Democrats take control of Congress next year.

Amid the vote, U.S. media reported that President Donald Trump was considering dismissing Pete Hegseth following Republican losses in the midterm elections. However, Donald Trump later publicly reaffirmed his support for the defence secretary and praised his performance. Hegseth himself dismissed the accusations as a political stunt and said he had no regrets about the military operations conducted.

The new Congress, in which Democrats are expected to control both chambers, will begin its work on January 3, 2027. This could pave the way for another impeachment attempt, although removing the secretary from office would ultimately require the support of two-thirds of the Senate.

Photo credit: AP