House Speaker Mike Johnson has unveiled a proposal for sending wartime aid to Israel, Ukraine, and Taiwan in response to ongoing conflicts and tensions. The aid would be split into four separate bills, with each country receiving assistance individually. Johnson has faced pushback from some members of his party, particularly over aid for Ukraine, but believes that separate bills will help appease conservative members. The Senate has already passed a $95 billion aid package for these countries, but Johnson is choosing to present the aid separately in four bills.
Johnson is facing pressure from defense hawks in both parties to bring up the Senate aid package, but has struggled to find a path forward amid divisions among Republicans and Democrats. The recent drone-and-missile attack on Israel by Iran has increased pressure on Johnson to hold a vote on the aid package. Proponents believe the Senate bill has enough support to pass the House. However, putting Ukraine aid up for a vote risks his leadership as speaker, as some conservative members, like Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, have threatened to oust him if he moves forward with the aid package for Ukraine.
While splitting the aid into individual bills may appease conservatives, it also makes passage in the Senate uncertain. The White House has stated its opposition to a standalone Israel bill, and some progressives oppose sending additional aid to Israel due to concerns over its handling of the conflict in Gaza. A recent Israeli strike that killed aid workers may further harden Democratic resistance to providing aid to Israel. Johnson remains focused on governing and doing his job to address the ongoing conflict, despite the threat of a motion to remove him from his position as speaker.
Johnson’s tenure as speaker has been defined by infighting within the GOP, leading to dysfunction in the House. With House Republicans’ narrow majority requiring him to rely on Democrats to pass major legislation, Johnson has faced challenges in navigating bipartisan support for aid to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. The decision to split the aid into separate bills is an attempt to address these divisions within his party. The ultimate outcome of the aid package for these countries remains uncertain, as Johnson seeks to navigate the complex political landscape in Washington.
