Speaker Mike Johnson announced plans to advance a national security spending package to aid Israel, Ukraine, and other American allies, as well as a separate bill aimed at mollifying conservative opposition to backing Kyiv. Mr. Johnson’s decision came after weeks of deliberation over how to provide aid to Ukraine amid resistance from Republicans. He intends to break down the aid bill into separate pieces for Israel, Ukraine, Taiwan, and other allies, along with a fourth bill containing policies popular among Republicans. The complicated strategy may face challenges in the House, where Mr. Johnson has a tenuous hold on his divided conference.
The success of the aid package will rely on building bipartisan coalitions to support different pieces, given opposition from hard-right Republicans to Ukraine funding and from left-wing Democrats to unfettered aid for Israel. Mr. Johnson acknowledged that the plan could endanger his speakership, which is already teetering under a threat of ouster. To appeal to Republicans hesitant to support additional aid for Kyiv, Mr. Johnson proposed legislation requiring some funding to be repaid and financed by selling off frozen Russian assets. The aid package would also include a bill to potentially ban TikTok, a measure that passed the House with bipartisan support but remains stalled in the Senate.
Senate leaders Schumer and McConnell had urged Mr. Johnson to pass the Senate-approved aid package unchanged, but he decided to create a new plan after consulting with them and the White House. Some Republicans favor breaking the foreign aid package into separate bills rather than one large measure as done in the Senate. Mr. Johnson said he made this decision in deference to “the will of my colleagues.” Representative Kevin Hern, chairman of the conservative Republican Study Committee, expressed early support for the plan following a meeting with Mr. Johnson.
Despite facing threats of ouster from some fellow Representatives, including Marjorie Taylor Greene, Mr. Johnson has continued to advocate for assisting Ukraine. He has sought to structure a foreign aid package that can secure enough support in the House amid Republican opposition to aid for Kyiv and Democratic concerns about unrestricted military assistance to Israel. Mr. Johnson emphasized the urgency of sending aid to Ukraine to combat Russia’s invasion, calling it a top priority for the House. The aid package is expected to move forward this week, according to Mr. Johnson.
Overall, Mr. Johnson’s plan aims to address the critical need for national security spending to aid key allies like Israel, Ukraine, and Taiwan. The strategy of breaking the aid package into separate bills reflects efforts to secure support from different factions within the House. While facing potential challenges to his speakership, Mr. Johnson remains committed to governing and advancing the aid package. The support of key Republican leaders and the potential for bipartisan coalitions to form around the various pieces of the aid package will be crucial in determining its success in the House.
