The U.S. House of Representatives failed to move forward with articles of impeachment against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, after 11 Democrats missed a key vote. The resolution sought to impeach the Secretary for "high crimes and misdemeanors" related to military actions in Iran and the Caribbean that were reportedly conducted without congressional approval. Because the absent lawmakers did not participate, a Republican motion passed to refer the matter to the GOP-led Judiciary Committee, where it is expected to remain until at least January 2027.
The voting absence was attributed to a traffic jam in Washington, D.C., that prevented several representatives from reaching the Capitol in time. According to reporters from Axios and Politico, a group of Democrats had been attending an Elect Democratic Women event roughly 1.5 miles from the chamber. Lawmakers including Rep. Jonathan L. Jackson (D-IL) and a spokesperson for Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-NM) reported being delayed by a police-escorted bus and a motorcade, with some members arriving just one minute after the vote concluded.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), who stated he was a "hard yes" on the impeachment, has faced criticism from political commentators and fellow Democrats for the attendance failure. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) told CNN that lawmakers are sent to Congress "to do a job" and should "clock in" just as service workers do. Jeffries told reporters he had not yet spoken to the floor team about the logistics of the vote but maintained that the failed resolution was "not the end of it."
The delay impacts federal policy regarding congressional authorization for military action. Until the Judiciary Committee acts or a new session begins, the current Defense Department strategies in Iran and drug-interdiction efforts in the Caribbean remain unchallenged by this specific impeachment effort. Voters in districts such as Washington’s 10th (Rep. Marilyn Strickland) and Illinois' 1st (Rep. Jonathan Jackson) saw their representatives' intended "No" votes on the referral motion recorded in the Congressional Record but omitted from the official tally. This has led to public debate over congressional work requirements and the impact of local logistics on federal governance.
What happens next: The impeachment articles have been referred to the House Judiciary Committee. With Republicans currently holding the majority, the matter is expected to stay in committee without further action for the remainder of the current term. If Democrats take control of Congress in January 2027, the party may attempt to reintroduce or revive the impeachment proceedings. No specific dates for committee hearings on the Hegseth resolution have been scheduled.