Staff Reports
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) is under fire from fellow conservatives after pushing through a bipartisan spending bill just in the nick of time to avert a government shutdown. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) took swift action by filing a motion to oust the speaker, accusing him of failing to prioritize border security and collaborating too closely with Democrats.
#BREAKING: @RepMTG files motion to vacate against @SpeakerJohnson after bipartisan spending deal https://t.co/dsGQxbrL3W https://t.co/dsGQxbrL3W
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) March 22, 2024
Greene wasted no time in publicly condemning Johnson, stating, “We need a Speaker of the House who will fight to secure America’s border at all cost! Not one that passes a trillion dollar Democrat wish list that continues the border invasion, funds the weaponized government, and breaks our own conference rules.” Her frustration with Johnson’s leadership has been boiling over for weeks, and she is not alone in her discontent.
Many hard-line Republicans have voiced their dissatisfaction with Johnson’s approach, with Greene being the first to take direct action against him. She highlighted how the spending deal was reached behind closed doors without input from lawmakers, a move that has drawn criticism from within the party.
The motion to remove Johnson from the speakership comes amid growing tension within the GOP over his leadership style. Greene has been vocal about her displeasure, citing violations of Republican rules that had led to the ousting of Johnson’s predecessor just months earlier. She argued, “Our Republican majority started out with all these rules and sweeping changes: single appropriation bills, 72 hours to read bills, open rules, open amendments, and this breaks every single one of those rules under the new ‘conservative speaker.’”
The timing of the motion is significant, as it follows the passage of the final appropriations package and precedes a scheduled government shutdown. Johnson has remained defiant in the face of this challenge to his position, expressing his determination to continue leading the House without being swayed by potential backlash from his party colleagues. He declared, “I don’t operate in fear, no. We have to do the job, we have to govern and that’s what we’re doing day by day.”
This latest development mirrors the previous ousting of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, indicating a pattern of discontent within the GOP regarding leadership. The outcome of the motion to vacate Johnson’s speakership remains uncertain, with the potential for significant disruption should such a removal take place.
