Dec. 11 funding deadline looms as impeachment vote hits House floor

Lawmakers returned to Capitol Hill on Sunday for the post-midterm lame-duck session, bringing a potential impeachment vote for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to the House floor. Outgoing Representative Thomas Massie, a Republican from Kentucky, pledged to introduce a privileged resolution to start the process. Massie stated that the chamber must vote on the measure, adding that the only ways to avoid the vote are if Hegseth resigns or President Donald Trump fires him.

Hegseth responded to the move with a video posted on X, vowing to fight the effort. "Their obsession with political theater disguised as power drives them to try to destroy their opponents," Hegseth said. "It’s all about the politics of personal destruction. It didn’t work with President Trump and it won’t work with me. You can rest assured of that."

Budget negotiations also began this week as the current continuing resolution is set to expire on Dec. 11. Lawmakers must pass new funding legislation before that date to keep the government open. The timing forces a quick turnaround on fiscal policy before the holiday break.

The new members of Congress arrived in Washington for their freshman orientation during the same period. House Republicans are preparing to hold a leadership vote following their losses in the midterms. Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, said he will not run for the next Minority Leader position.

Two candidates are currently vying to replace Johnson as the party leader in the House. Steve Scalise, the current House Majority Leader from Louisiana, and Jim Jordan, the House Judiciary Committee Chair from Ohio, are the leading contenders for the role.