The Republican Party members in the US House of Representatives have managed to block an attempt to start impeachment proceedings against Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, American media report.

The House voted on a procedural motion to send Congressman Thomas Massie's respective impeachment resolution to the Judiciary Committee. A simple majority was needed to pass the motion.

"In a dramatic and tight 211-204 vote, the House voted to refer the resolution to committee, a move that essentially ends efforts to impeach Hegseth over the Iran war and other issues until the next Congress, when Democrats will hold large majorities in the House and Senate," The Hill reports.

Earlier, the White House had officially opposed the attempt to impeach Hegseth.

“The administration strongly opposes this impeachment resolution against Secretary Hegseth. It's a rogue, politically motivated effort to undermine our war fighters, our nation's constitution and our national security,” the White House said in a statement.

Republican Party member Congressman Thomas Massie has introduced a resolution in the US Congress to impeach the Pentagon chief. He accuses Hegseth of waging war on Iran without congressional authorization and abusing his authority.