US President Donald Trump declared the impeachment effort against Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth had "miserably failed" after House Republicans blocked the move. Trump praised Hegseth's. The vote may only delay an impeachment push against Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, with Democrats set to take control of the House and Senate in January. The US House voted 211-204 to refer eight impeachment articles against Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth to the Judiciary.