House votes 211-204 to bury Hegseth impeachment bid in committee

The U.S. House of Representatives voted 211-204 to refer the impeachment resolution against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to committee, a move that effectively freezes the effort in the current Congress. The resolution was introduced by Republican Rep. Thomas Massie. Eleven Democrats were absent for the vote, and the Democrats who did show up voted against the referral.

The resolution laid out eight counts, focused on alleged violations of the War Powers Resolution and military actions. With the measure parked in committee rather than on the floor, Hegseth remains in his post and the odds of impeachment have dropped.

Attention now turns to the House Judiciary Committee and whether it takes any further action on the resolution. New allegations or shifting political dynamics could change that trajectory, and the same goes for any change in Democratic leadership's priorities or moves by Massie.

Any further movement on the eight counts sits with the committee, where the resolution's path is anything but settled.