After a two-week Easter recess, the House has returned to session with Speaker Mike Johnson facing a threat to his speakership from fellow Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene. Greene filed a motion to oust Johnson just before the recess, following a vote to fund the government that required Democratic votes to pass. She has been critical of Johnson for working closely with Democrats and moving away from Republican ideals, accusing him of being a “Democratic Speaker” for leaning on Democrats to pass legislation.
Greene has escalated her criticism of Johnson in recent weeks, accusing him of changing and working more with Democrats than Republicans since becoming speaker. She suggested that he may be blackmailed or disconnected from the beliefs of Republican members, expressing concern over his leadership. Johnson, who has only held the position since October, has defended himself by pointing out the necessity of working with Democrats due to the GOP’s razor-thin majority and the need for bipartisan cooperation in passing legislation.
The reliance on Democrats’ votes to pass legislation also led to the ouster of Johnson’s predecessor, Kevin McCarthy, by Republican hard-liners who were upset with his bipartisan approach. Johnson has acknowledged Greene’s frustrations over the GOP’s slim majority and has promised to bring aid for Ukraine to the floor when the House returns. However, Greene has threatened to work against Johnson’s speakership if he moves forward with the Ukraine aid package. Johnson has stated that he expects to propose a package including aid for Ukraine with some innovative measures upon the House’s return.
Republicans are considering various options for providing aid to Ukraine, including exploring the “loan” idea proposed by former President Donald Trump. This would involve offering aid to Ukraine as a loan with no interest, which could potentially be waivable. Another option under consideration is allowing natural gas exports to continue after the Biden administration paused approvals of new liquefied natural gas export permits earlier this year. Climate advocacy groups and activists have applauded this move, while Johnson has criticized it as hindering America’s economic growth.
The Senate has already passed a $95 billion aid bill for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, but Johnson has not taken up the legislation in the House. It remains uncertain when Greene will activate her resolution to oust Johnson, which would require a vote within two legislative days. The two were scheduled to speak last Friday, but the details of their conversation have not been disclosed. As tensions within the Republican party continue to rise, the future of Johnson’s speakership remains uncertain as the House faces important decisions on Ukraine aid and other legislative matters upon its return.
