House to leave early, delaying Hegseth vote past midterms

House schedule changes

House lawmakers will leave Washington earlier than planned after Republican leaders canceled the chamber’s final scheduled voting session before the November midterm elections. The House had been expected to consider the possible impeachment of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth during that period.

Canceling the session removes the opportunity for the chamber to hold that vote before lawmakers make their final departure from Washington ahead of the elections. NBC News correspondent Julie Tsirkin reported the schedule change from the Capitol.

The decision concerns when the House will vote. It does not itself approve or reject the possible impeachment of Hegseth, because lawmakers will not cast votes on the matter during the canceled session.

What happens to the Hegseth vote

The possible impeachment vote is now delayed until after the midterm elections. The House would need to schedule the matter for a later voting session before members could formally act on it.

The cancellation also means there will be no recorded House decision on the Hegseth matter before voters participate in the November midterms. Lawmakers therefore will not take an official position through this expected vote during the remaining pre-election schedule.

The next procedural step depends on the House calendar after the elections. Until another voting session is scheduled and the possible impeachment is placed before the chamber, the House will take no vote on the question.