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U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie speaks about the articles of impeachment he introduced against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth outside the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 9. /AP-Yonhap

The U.S. House of Representatives has blocked a floor vote on a resolution to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, effectively derailing the impeachment effort.

On Tuesday, the House voted 211-204 to approve a motion to refer the impeachment resolution against Hegseth to the Republican-led House Judiciary Committee. 

The move canceled the floor vote on the resolution scheduled for Wednesday. With Republicans effectively blocking the measure, the effort to impeach Hegseth failed to advance to a full House vote and lost momentum.

Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, who introduced the impeachment resolution, was reportedly the only Republican to oppose referring it to the committee. Seven Republicans and 11 Democrats did not participate in the vote.

Massie's grounds for impeachment included Hegseth's conduct of the war against Iran without congressional authorization, the arrest and transfer of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro without legal authority, and military strikes on suspected drug-trafficking vessels that allegedly killed hundreds of people without due process.

According to Fox News, Hegseth criticized Massie and pushed back against the impeachment effort during a news conference Tuesday.

"What one disgruntled, defeated congressman is attempting is not oversight or accountability," he said. "It is nothing more than political theater and a personal statement driven by ego and resentment."

Massie, who is regarded as an anti-Trump figure within the Republican Party, lost the party's midterm primary in May and will leave office when his term ends next January. Despite opposition from House Republican leaders, he introduced a privileged resolution that forced the vote.

A privileged resolution is a procedural mechanism that allows certain matters to be considered quickly, regardless of the wishes of the House majority. Such resolutions must be considered within two legislative days of being introduced.

The Democratic Party, which secured majorities in both the House and Senate in the Nov. 3 midterm elections, plans to renew its effort to impeach Hegseth when the new Congress convenes next January.

                                                                                                             Kim Hyun-min