WASHINGTON – The Republican-controlled US House of Representatives on Tuesday voted 211-204 on a procedural motion to refer an impeachment resolution against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to a committee for further consideration, effectively blocking the impeachment effort.

The procedural vote came one day after Republican Representative Thomas Massie unveiled impeachment articles against Hegseth over the US war with Iran and other military hostilities.

Massie, a longtime critic of US President Donald Trump, is retiring from Congress at the end of the year. He brought eight charges against Hegseth, asserting that Hegseth is violating three specific provisions of the War Powers Resolution of 1973.

"By engaging in hostilities in Iran for more than 90 days without congressional authorization, Secretary Hegseth is breaking the law and must be held accountable," Massie said in a statement on Monday.

At a news conference at the Pentagon Tuesday morning, Hegseth said that the impeachment effort led by Massie is a "farce" and a "stunt" aimed at damaging Trump, calling Massie a "disgruntled and defeated congressman."

Shortly before the House vote, the White House released a statement strongly opposing this impeachment resolution against Hegseth.

READ MORE: Republican lawmaker seeks impeachment of defense chief Hegseth over Iran war

Despite the failed attempt, Hegseth is set to face further scrutiny going forward. Democrats flipped more than 40 seats in the Nov 3 midterm elections and are expected to hold more than 250 seats when the new Congress takes office in January.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who is on track to be elected House speaker in January, said that Democrats will "run Pete Hegseth out of town" when they take over Congress next year.