The GOP leadership is facing challenges from hardliners in the House Freedom Caucus who have activated their Floor Action Response Team (FART) to monitor any surprise resolutions. There have been calls for retaliatory measures from traditionalist Republicans amid concerns that the hard-right flank may try to oust Speaker Mike Johnson. Rep. Mike Lawler suggested removing three members from the House Rules Committee who have refused to support the Speaker’s agenda, namely Reps. Thomas Massie, Chip Roy, and Ralph Norman.
These three members have threatened to scuttle Johnson’s plan to push through four foreign aid packages and have weakened his negotiating posture by repeatedly blocking key rules for legislation. This has forced Johnson to rely on Democrats to pass bills under suspension of the rules, requiring a two-thirds majority. Johnson has expressed frustration with the lack of support from some Republicans, blaming them for hindering efforts to secure concessions on border security.
Members of the Freedom Caucus have previously mentioned FART as a way to disrupt the passage of legislation through unanimous consent. The caucus is displeased with Johnson’s efforts to advance foreign aid bills, including a $60.8 billion Ukraine package. Some members, including Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Massie, have hinted at a motion to vacate the chair as a protest against Johnson’s leadership.
As tensions escalate within the Republican Party, there are discussions about potentially changing the threshold needed to trigger a motion to vacate. Rep. Matt Gaetz led an effort to depose former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and has expressed concerns about weakening the accountability tool of a motion to vacate. There is uncertainty about whether Democrats will support Johnson and how the internal conflict among House Republicans will impact the future of the party’s leadership.
Johnson remains steadfast in his approach, stating that he will continue to do what he believes is right and let the consequences unfold. The growing threat to his speakership has prompted intense exchanges between him and members of the Republican Party. With the potential for a motion to vacate looming overhead, the future of Johnson’s leadership and the dynamics within the GOP remain uncertain as the party grapples with internal divisions and power struggles.
