House speaker cancels votes as Republican tries to impeach Pete Hegseth

House Speaker Mike Johnson has halted the final day of voting in the House until after the November midterm elections, following a Republican congressman's attempt to impeach Secretary of War Pete Hegseth. This comes a day after seven Republicans voted to limit President Trump's war-making authority against Iran, and another day after Democrat Gregory Meeks said he would not clear the proposed sale of 2,000-pound bombs to Israel.

With all 435 House members up for re-election every two years, Johnson informed reporters that members should return to their districts to campaign for voters. The House has canceled at least 23 voting days in 2026 alone, more than doubling when considering the full congressional term since January 2025. South Carolina Republican Representative Ralph Norman called Johnson's move "unacceptable," stating that Members should be campaigning, not paid by taxpayers.

New Mexico Democrat Melanie Stansbury suggested that Republican leadership feared party members might vote against the Trump administration. House Republican Thomas Massie introduced eight articles of impeachment against Hegseth, accusing him of high crimes and misdemeanors related to the war in Iran. Massie argued that Hegseth personally violated rules of engagement by bombing schoolchildren during the war.

A vote on Hegseth's impeachment was scheduled for Thursday, aiming to have Members of the president's party on record for the vote.