Speaker Johnson Sends House Home Early, Delaying Vote on Massie's Push to Impeach Defense Secretary Hegseth

Rep. Thomas Massie's surprise push to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has been sidelined after Speaker Mike Johnson sent the House home early for a seven-week recess ahead of the November midterms.

On September 15, Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) filed an 8-article, 34-page impeachment resolution against Hegseth on the House floor, accusing him of violating the War Powers Resolution of 1973 in the administration's conduct of the Iran war, including launching military action without evidence of an imminent threat. Additional articles cite a February 28 strike on the Shajareh Tayyebeh Elementary School that caused civilian casualties, strikes on alleged drug boats in the Caribbean, the capture of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro without congressional authorization, and strikes on Houthi militants in Yemen. Massie kept the move secret from GOP leadership beforehand.

Because Massie's resolution is privileged under House rules, it started a procedural clock requiring Johnson to bring it to the floor within roughly two legislative days. Rather than schedule the vote, Johnson announced on September 16 that the House would begin its campaign recess early, effectively pushing any impeachment vote until after Election Day.

Massie delivered an hour-long floor speech criticizing the early adjournment: "We're calling off Congress? And we're in the majority?" and "Why would we be canceling days when the country is burning?" Johnson dismissed the impeachment effort as "a publicity stunt by someone who wants attention," adding: "Secretary Hegseth has done an extraordinary job at the Department of War."

The impeachment effort is considered highly unlikely to succeed in the Republican-controlled House even if it eventually reaches a vote. Reporting indicates the House has cut roughly 24 net legislative days from its 2026 calendar. Critics say the early recess shields vulnerable Republican members from a politically risky vote on Hegseth just before the midterms, deepening a rift between Massie and Trump-aligned leadership.