The U.S. House of Representatives has effectively ended the effort to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. On Tuesday, the chamber voted 211 to 204 to return the impeachment articles to the House Judiciary Committee for review. This procedural move prevents a final floor vote on the impeachment, making it highly unlikely that the issue will be resolved before the current congressional session concludes.
Republican Rep. Thomas Massie had reintroduced the impeachment articles earlier in the week. He accused Hegseth of committing high crimes related to the ongoing war with Iran and U.S. military strikes against drug boats in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific. Despite the defeat, the vote highlighted a complex dynamic within the chamber regarding war powers and executive authority.
NPR correspondent Eric McDaniel described the vote as a game of attendance. Although enough Democrats were in Washington to pass the resolution, fewer were present on the floor to cast their votes, allowing Republicans to secure a simple majority. GOP Rep. Warren Davidson of Ohio, who spoke to NPR before the vote, argued that while the Iran war may be unconstitutional, Hegseth was being used as a scapegoat for broader political stagnation in Washington.
Alongside the impeachment vote, the Republican-led House Oversight Committee released a report on its investigation into Jeffrey Epstein. The findings concluded that the federal government mishandled criminal investigations into the late financier and failed to adequately support survivors of his alleged crimes. This release was part of a busy legislative day for the majority party.
In a significant leadership change, House Republicans voted to replace Speaker Mike Johnson with Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio as the new minority leader. Johnson is stepping down following the Republican losses in the recent midterm elections. At 62 years old, Jordan brings experience from the Oversight and Judiciary committees, which are expected to play central roles in the new Congress. Democrats plan to use these panels for investigations into President Trump and his administration.
NPR's Barbara Sprunt noted that Jordan's selection signals a move toward change rather than continuity. His appointment, combined with the selection of Stephen Miller as the president's new chief of staff, suggests a shift toward a more combative political approach. Democratic leadership elections are expected next week, with current leaders Hakeem Jeffries and Chuck Schumer likely to retain their positions.
In related national security news, federal prosecutors in Manhattan indicted three men accused of being Iran-backed operatives. The men are alleged to be involved in nearly 20 terrorist attacks and attempted attacks across Europe and the U.S., including a September plot targeting a British air base housing American forces. The Justice Department stated that some attacks were directed live via FaceTime from Iraq.
Prosecutors accused the defendants of working for Iran's Revolutionary Guard and the Iraqi militia Kata'ib Hezbollah, both classified as terrorist groups. Seven of the attacks occurred in Britain and included arson, explosives, and a near-fatal stabbing of two Jewish men in London. In a separate matter, British counter-terrorism police arrested a 41-year-old U.S. Army soldier on suspicion of spying for Russia, though authorities emphasized this case is not linked to the Iran-related indictment.
The new Congress will also see changes in veteran representation. The 120th Congress is expected to include at least 80 veterans, a number that is shrinking from 19% to 15% of the total membership. This decline is largely attributed to demographic shifts in an all-volunteer military. However, the number of female veterans in Congress is set to double, with Democrats frequently selecting veteran candidates for tough races.
Veterans are also playing a significant role in the electoral process through voting and volunteering. The group Vet the Vote recruited more than 175,000 veterans and family members to serve as poll workers during the recent midterms, an increase from their previous goal of 150,000. Research from Syracuse University indicates that veterans continue to turn out at higher rates than civilians in elections, a trend that is particularly pronounced in midterm cycles.
