Republican Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky introduced the resolution, which contains eight articles. They accuse Hegseth of violating the 1973 War Powers Resolution by continuing military operations in Iran for 256 days without congressional authorization, and of unauthorized military action in Yemen and against Venezuela's Nicolás Maduro, whom the articles describe as having been "kidnapped." Other articles allege extrajudicial killings of at least 240 people in strikes on alleged drug boats in the Caribbean and Pacific since September 2025, and retaliation against Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona.

The seven-vote margin came with 18 members not voting: 11 Democrats and seven Republicans. Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove, a California Democrat, blamed absent colleagues for the loss. "People should have gotten their raggedy selves up these steps to vote," she said. "There is no reason why we should have lost this vote because of attendance issues." Among the missing Democrats were Nancy Pelosi, the former speaker, and Reps. Haley Stevens of Michigan, Melanie Stansbury of New Mexico and Laura Gillen. Pelosi was reportedly at a Veterans Day event in San Francisco. Stansbury said a traffic incident and a police escort kept her from reaching the Capitol, and she filed a statement saying she would have voted no.

Hegseth defended the operations at a Pentagon briefing. "I stand behind every one of these operations," he said. "I would do it again tomorrow." Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell called the vote a "total victory" for Hegseth and for the American warfighter.

Republican leaders and the White House took the same line. House Speaker Mike Johnson argued that impeaching a Cabinet secretary during an international conflict sends a "terrible message" to adversaries. Vice President JD Vance said Hegseth had committed no impeachable crimes and called the effort political theatre. President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social that Hegseth had been "exonerated," called Massie a loser, and pointed to successes in Venezuela and Iran and record recruitment numbers. Rep. Don Bacon and Sen. Joni Ernst, both Republicans, have voiced reservations about Hegseth's leadership and the administration's handling of the Iran war. A poll conducted November 6 to 9 found 51 percent of Republicans supported legislation to end that war.

Democrats, who won the midterms, are expected to take control of the House in January 2027. Hakeem Jeffries, the House Democratic leader and the likely next speaker, has said Hegseth "abused his power" and "undermined America's national security," and that Democrats should "run Pete Hegseth out of town." He is already planning to discuss a new resolution with members. Rep. Maxwell Frost, a Florida Democrat, has drafted separate articles to pursue once Democrats hold the majority.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said investigations into Hegseth will continue, with the impeachment effort to be brought back in the new Congress alongside other investigations and subpoenas. Removing a Cabinet secretary through impeachment requires a two-thirds vote in the Senate to convict.