Week Ahead in Washington: Nov. 8

WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - Lawmakers return to Capitol Hill this week for the lame-duck session after the midterm elections, with a potential impeachment vote on Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and government funding on the agenda.

Outgoing Rep. Thomas Massie, (R-Ky.) has promised to bring a privileged resolution to impeach Hegseth. The House must vote on a privileged resolution.

Massie said the only way to avoid a vote is if Hegseth resigns or President Donald Trump fires him.

In response, Hegseth posted a video to X vowing to fight.

“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.”

Lawmakers also will start work this week on keeping the government open.

Government funding is set to run out Dec. 11, when the continuing resolution passed earlier this year expires.

The newest members of Congress come to Washington this week for freshman orientation.

House Republicans plan to hold their leadership vote after losses in last week’s election.

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said he will not be in the running for the next Minority Leader. Two candidates vying to replace him as GOP leader are current House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) and House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio).