House’s Failure to Impeach Hegseth Means the Next Congress Must Take Action

Washington, D.C. — The Project On Government Oversight (POGO), a nonpartisan government watchdog, criticized the U.S. House of Representatives today for voting to refer back to the Judiciary Committee Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s impeachment. This is a delay tactic meant to prevent this Congress from taking up this urgent matter. Isabel Munilla, Interim Executive Director of POGO, issued the following statement:

"Today, the House of Representatives had both the evidence and the constitutional authority to hold Secretary Hegseth accountable for his continued and brazen violations of the Constitution. It failed. By refusing to act, it has effectively abandoned one of its most important constitutional responsibilities: ensuring the executive branch is accountable to the people.

“Impeachment is a serious constitutional safeguard, reserved for grave abuses of power. Hegseth’s repeated violations of the Constitution meet that standard. Impeachment in this case is necessary and urgent for our national security. Americans expect Congress to hold the Pentagon accountable, especially as the illegal war with Iran rages on. Accountability cannot end with today’s vote. Come January, the new Congress must finish the job.”