Late Thursday night, the House Rules Committee passed a series of foreign aid bills, signaling that Republicans in the chamber will need to rely on Democrats to pass the legislation. While three Republican hardliners on the panel voted against the bills, all Democrats on the panel voted in favor. The bills are set to go to the House floor for a test with a rule vote on Friday, with a final passage vote expected on Saturday. House Speaker Mike Johnson suggested that the vote on the package would take place early Saturday, but the exact timing is still being worked out.
Earlier on Thursday, the House Freedom Caucus urged House Republicans to oppose the procedural vote on the foreign aid bills, arguing that border security is being neglected. The caucus stated that they would be voting against the rule for the “America Last” foreign wars supplemental package and encouraged all House Republicans to do the same. The package includes aid for Ukraine, Israel, and the Indo-Pacific region to deter Chinese aggression, as well as provisions for sanctions on Iran, the seizure of frozen Russian assets, and a potential nationwide ban on TikTok.
The foreign aid bills in the House are similar to the legislation that passed in the Senate in February, totaling about $95 billion. However, there are differences in the form of repayable loans for Ukraine economic assistance. With Republicans holding a slim majority in the House, Johnson will need Democratic support to navigate procedural hurdles, especially with opposition from hardliners. Some members of the GOP have expressed dissatisfaction with the bills, leading to pressure on Johnson and speculation about his future as Speaker.
The dispute over the foreign aid bills and the potential for a challenge to Johnson’s leadership represents a significant challenge for the Speaker. There have been threats from some members of the GOP, such as Representative Massie, to attempt to oust Johnson from the speakership. However, Johnson has remained defiant in the face of these challenges, stating that he has no intention of resigning. The situation highlights the tension within the Republican Party over issues such as foreign aid, border security, and leadership direction. It remains to be seen how the votes on the foreign aid bills will play out and what impact they will have on Johnson’s leadership position.
