Key facts
- House Speaker Mike Johnson canceled the final day of voting before the November midterm elections.
- Republican Congressman Thomas Massie filed eight articles of impeachment against Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.
- A vote to limit President Donald Trump's warmaking authority against Iran passed with support from multiple Republicans.
- Democrat Gregory Meeks placed a hold on a proposed $2.8 billion sale of 2,000-pound bombs to Israel.
- Massie accused Hegseth of "high crimes and misdemeanors" related to the war on Iran, including bombing schoolchildren.
- The White House stated that Secretary Hegseth is doing a "phenomenal job" and follows the law.
House Speaker Mike Johnson canceled the final day of voting before the November midterm recess, sending lawmakers home early. The decision came shortly after Republican Congressman Thomas Massie introduced eight articles of impeachment against Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.
Johnson stated that the House had completed its work and that members should return to their districts to campaign. He highlighted the over 900 pieces of legislation passed by the House, with about 700 awaiting Senate action. However, some lawmakers, like South Carolina Republican Ralph Norman, criticized the move as "unacceptable," arguing that Congress should continue its work.
New Mexico Democratic Congresswoman Melanie Stansbury suggested the cancellation was due to fears that enough Republican members might vote against the Trump administration's interests, particularly concerning the impeachment of Hegseth and a recent vote on a war powers resolution. Massie himself wrote on X that the cancellation was to avoid the vote on impeaching Hegseth and to make it harder to gather signatures for the Epstein Discharge Petition.
Massie's impeachment articles accuse Hegseth of "high crimes and misdemeanors," citing his conduct during the seven-month war on Iran, including allegations of bombing schoolchildren. The White House, through attorney Todd Blanche, stated that Hegseth is performing a "phenomenal job" and adheres to the law.
In a separate action, Gregory Meeks, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, placed a hold on a proposed $2.8 billion sale of 2,000-pound bombs to Israel. Meeks cited concerns that the munitions might not be used in accordance with US and international law, particularly in densely populated areas of Gaza and Lebanon. This move signals Democratic concerns about Israeli tactics and US support, especially among progressive Democrats.