Republican-controlled House votes 211 to 204 to send the impeachment resolution to committee, halting an immediate vote on charges against US defence secretary.
Republicans in the United States House of Representatives have blocked an effort to impeach Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth over his conduct of the Iran war, handing President Donald Trump a vital legislative reprieve days after his party's bruising midterm election defeat.
Lawmakers voted 211 to 204 to refer the impeachment resolution to the House Judiciary Committee, effectively scuppering a scheduled floor vote on Wednesday that would have determined whether to bring formal charges against the embattled Pentagon chief.
The resolution was originally introduced by Republican Representative Thomas Massie, an outspoken Trump critic who stood as the sole member of his party to vote against the procedural referral.
Republicans retain a narrow working majority until January, when Democrats assume control of both chambers of Congress.
Eleven Democrats missed Tuesday's ballot.
Hegseth mounts defiant defence
Following the briefing, Trump reaffirmed his backing on Truth Social, awarding Hegseth an "A PLUS, PLUS, PLUS", while Vice-President JD Vance maintained the defence secretary had "obviously not" committed impeachable offences.
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell hailed the outcome on the X platform as a "TOTAL VICTORY", writing: "We look forward to ending this sham impeachment in the committee room, where facts will continue to prevail, and this distraction can be put to rest."
Earlier on Tuesday, Hegseth mounted a fierce defence of his record at a Pentagon press briefing, branding the impeachment push a "farce", a "stunt", and an act of "sabotage".
Massie accused Hegseth of attempting to penalise Democratic Senator Mark Kelly over protected speech.
Unbowed, Hegseth defended every deployment: "I stand behind every one of these operations. I was proud to execute them, and I would do it again tomorrow."
Whilst the referral effectively halts the immediate drive, Democrats could revive proceedings once they take charge of the House in January.
Massie, having lost his primary to a Trump-backed candidate, leaves office at the end of his term.
TRT World & Agencies — TRT World & Agencies
Photo: Reuters
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