House Kills Massie's Hegseth Impeachment Push 211-204 as 11 Democrats Miss Vote

House Republican leaders blocked Rep. Thomas Massie's (R-Ky.) attempt to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Tuesday evening, with a procedural vote failing the effort 211-204 while 11 House Democrats were absent. The absent members were Reps. Julia Brownley, Lou Correa, Nancy Pelosi, Laura Gillen, Steven Horsford, Jonathan Jackson, Brittany Pettersen, Melanie Stansbury, Haley Stevens, Marilyn Strickland and Frederica Wilson. Massie's resolution had eight articles, alleging illegal conduct in military actions in Iran, Venezuela and the Caribbean, including a US strike on a girls' school in Minab, Iran, and retaliation against Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz. Hegseth held a news conference against impeachment this week. Democrats are projected to win 255 House seats, and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries is running for Speaker. Former Pentagon spokesperson John Ullyot, who resigned in April 2025, predicted on CNN that Hegseth will eventually be impeached.

Right-leaning outlets focus on the Democratic failure. Fox News says the blunders raise doubts about Democratic readiness to govern and Jeffries' bid, quoting Democrat Fred Trump III's criticism. Breitbart lists the absentees, details their excuses (a medical procedure, a family emergency, a Veterans Day event, being denied a vote) and says Jackson was caught in a lie after telling TMZ he could not wait to impeach Hegseth, then blaming traffic. Left-leaning outlets treat the failure as a setback with a possible upside. The Guardian's opinion piece cites disorganization and traffic and argues Democrats can refocus the articles next Congress. HuffPost centers on Ullyot's criticism of Hegseth. Both sides acknowledge the absences; they differ on whether the story is Democratic incompetence or Hegseth's vulnerability. Alternative outlets add other angles: The Intercept urges adding press censorship, and TMZ points to a boat strike that killed two survivors.