How Hegseth survived Massie's impeachment effort

As of November 11, 2026, Pete Hegseth, the Defense Secretary under President Donald Trump, remains in his position despite facing calls for his removal and impeachment following Republican losses in the midterm elections. The Democrats gained control of both chambers of Congress due to voter backlash against the ongoing war with Iran. On November 4, Representative Thomas Massie introduced articles of impeachment against Hegseth, citing "high crimes and misdemeanors" related to the Iran conflict. However, an attempt by Massie to move forward with these articles failed in a procedural vote on November 10 due to several Democrats' absence from the House floor, allowing Republicans to prevent the impeachment proceedings.

President Trump has stood firm behind Hegseth, stating he is "doing a great job," while some White House insiders and lawmakers speculate about potential repercussions for Hegseth regarding the war's impact. Despite this, Democratic leaders criticized their colleagues for missing the critical vote that would have allowed further investigation into Hegseth’s actions related to the Iran conflict.