Congress Returns Nov. 9 Amid Push to Impeach Pentagon Chief Pete Hegseth
Lawmakers return to Capitol Hill Nov. 9 with a packed agenda including a likely impeachment vote on Secretary Pete Hegseth.
U.S. Secretary of Defense/Wikimedia Commons
Congress reconvenes on November 9 after extended recesses with a full calendar, including a politically charged effort to impeach U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth. The Republican-controlled House faces a narrow margin as it works to finalize key legislation before the new 120th Congress is sworn in on January 3, 2027.
Hegseth Impeachment Effort Gains Momentum
One of the most contentious issues awaiting lawmakers is the potential impeachment of Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth. In mid-September, Republican Representative Thomas Massie initiated a move to force a House vote on articles of impeachment against Hegseth, claiming he had secured enough support, including some Republicans, for passage. However, House Speaker Mike Johnson sent members home early to avoid a pre-midterm vote that could have embarrassed the Trump administration. Massie, who is leaving Congress after losing his primary to a Trump-backed challenger, has pledged to renew his impeachment push when Congress returns. He stated that the only way he would back down is if Hegseth immediately resigned.
Additional Votes on Epstein Files Transparency
Massie is also pushing for another vote on the Epstein Files Transparency Act II, which aims to close loopholes in the 2025 law that mandated the release of files related to Jeffrey Epstein. The bipartisan legislation would hold the federal government more accountable for disclosing information about the late convicted sex offender. After collecting enough signatures, Massie is positioned to force this vote during the remaining weeks of the 119th Congress.
Government Funding and Shutdown Risks
Congress currently operates under a funding bill extended until December 11. The most anticipated scenario is passing another short-term funding measure to keep the government running into January or March. Both parties appear reluctant to engage in another shutdown fight after two historic shutdowns during this Congress. However, there are early indications that Democrats may leverage the upcoming budget discussions to oppose the ongoing Iran war. Connecticut Representative Rosa DeLauro, top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, declared that “Democrats will absolutely not fund Trump’s war of choice with Iran that has increased costs on American families and made us less safe.” She emphasized ongoing discussions on how to use the final funding bills to end the conflict swiftly.
Deadlines Loom for Defense, Farm, and Infrastructure Bills
Lawmakers face critical deadlines in the coming weeks for several major federal programs. The annual defense policy bill remains unpassed, requiring attention before the year’s end. Additionally, mid-December marks the deadline to negotiate long-term reauthorization of federal highway and railway programs. Farm bill extensions also demand bipartisan cooperation as agricultural programs risk disruption if gridlock continues into the next year. These pending deadlines add urgency to the legislative calendar as Congress seeks to complete its work before the 120th Congress begins in January.
As lawmakers return to Capitol Hill, the final weeks of the 119th Congress promise intense debate and high-stakes decisions, especially surrounding the impeachment of Pete Hegseth and the looming government funding deadlines.
