Dec. 11 deadline looms as Congress tackles budget and Hegseth vote
Lawmakers return this week to address a looming funding gap and a contested impeachment effort.
By Rafael Collins ·
The 119th Congress reconvenes this week with two immediate priorities: securing government funding and deciding the fate of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Lawmakers must act before the current budget authority expires on Dec. 11. That date marks the end of the continuing resolution passed earlier this year, which currently keeps federal agencies operating.
Outgoing Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) is leading the push to impeach Hegseth. He plans to introduce a privileged resolution, a procedural tool that forces a House vote without allowing members to ignore it. Massie stated that the only ways to avoid that vote are if Hegseth resigns or if President Donald Trump removes him from the post.
Hegseth responded to the threat by posting a video to X. He framed the effort as a personal attack rather than a policy dispute. “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.”
Beyond the defense secretary, the new group of members will attend freshman orientation. House Republicans are also preparing to elect their new leadership team following last week's midterm election results. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) announced he will not seek the position of Minority Leader. The race to replace him as the top Republican in the chamber is between House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) and Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio).
