# Hegseth dodges impeachment vote as House cuts session short

> Republican leaders abruptly end the congressional work week to avoid a politically awkward vote on the Defense Secretary.
- Title: Hegseth dodges impeachment vote as House cuts session short
- Summary: Republican leaders abruptly end the congressional work week to avoid a politically awkward vote on the Defense Secretary. House Speaker Mike Johnson canceled…
- Keywords: pete hegseth, defense secretary, impeachment, house of representatives, mike johnson, thomas massie, iran war, war powers resolution, congress, midterm election, republican party, business
- Source: CNBC — https://cnbc.com/2026/09/16/hegseth-impeachment-house-election-recess.html
- Author: Justin Papp
- Published: 2026-09-16T18:34:06+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: pete hegseth, defense secretary, impeachment, house of representatives, mike johnson, thomas massie, iran war, war powers resolution, congress, midterm election, republican party, business
## House cuts session short to avoid vote
House Speaker Mike Johnson announced Wednesday that lawmakers would leave Washington a day earlier than planned, preventing an impeachment vote on Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that was set for Thursday.
## Massie introduced surprise impeachment articles
Rep. Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican, introduced articles of impeachment against Hegseth on Tuesday without warning GOP leadership, citing unauthorized military actions in Iran.
## GOP leaders deny political motivation
Speaker Johnson called Massie's impeachment attempt a publicity stunt and said the resolution would be tabled when Congress returns after the November 3 election.

> It will immediately be tabled, of course. But we probably won't do that today.
## House votes to end Iran war again
The House passed a war powers resolution Tuesday night on a 220-204 vote ordering the White House to end the Iran war. Seven Republicans joined Democrats, up from four in previous votes.
## Massie accuses leaders of avoiding scrutiny
Massie said on the House floor that Congress should hold the vote instead of canceling sessions for optics. He also noted the early dismissal would hamper efforts to compel the Justice Department to release Jeffrey Epstein files.

> We should be having this vote. We shouldn't be cancelling Congress because of the optics.
## Pentagon defends Hegseth's record
Pentagon Press Secretary Kingsley Wilson said the Department of War is better under Trump and Hegseth's leadership and that the department is unified behind the Secretary's vision.

> By every measurable metric, the Department of War is better under President Trump and Secretary Hegseth's leadership.
## Democrats seize on early recess timing
Rep. Melanie Stansbury of New Mexico said the only explanation for the early dismissal is fear that the House would vote to impeach Hegseth, and that the Speaker and President do not want that outcome.

> There's really only one explanation for why they would cancel votes tomorrow and send us home early.
## Key takeaway

House Speaker Mike Johnson canceled a day of votes to prevent an impeachment vote against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, a move that highlights growing GOP divisions over the Iran war.