House Republicans block vote to probe Hegseth's Signal use

Source: CNN Politics

Published 4:34 PM EDT, Tue April 29, 2025


CNN — House Republicans have thwarted Democratic efforts to probe Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s controversial use of Signal, using their power to stop the minority party from forcing a vote that could embarrass the Trump administration.

GOP leaders tucked a provision into a rule approved Tuesday that effectively prevents Democrats from forcing a vote on “resolutions of inquiry,” a tool often used by the minority to try to launch an investigation. Such resolutions typically fail, but with controversy mounting over Hegseth’s use of Signal to communicate military plans, Republicans wanted to avoid a vote that could succeed in the narrowly divided chamber if just a handful of GOP members broke ranks.

It marks just the latest instance of House Speaker Mike Johnson moving to change House rules to spare President Donald Trump and his administration the prospect of a politically bruising vote rather than let the House work its will. Johnson before blocked a bipartisan House and Senate effort to rein in presidential authority on tariffs.

“We’re using the rules of the House to prevent political hijinks and political stunts. And that’s what the Democrats have,” Johnson said prior to the floor vote, defending the move to defang Democrats’ effort by dismissing it as a stunt. “So we’re preventing this nonsensical waste of our time. We don’t have time to waste,” he added.


Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/29/politics/house-republicans-rules-block-hegseth-probe/index.html