House Speaker Mike Johnson unveiled a complex proposal on Monday for passing wartime aid for Israel, Ukraine, and Taiwan, sparking uncertainty about its path to passage as he rejected pressure to simply approve a package sent over by the Senate.
In a closed-door meeting with fellow GOP lawmakers, Johnson outlined his strategy to gain House approval for the funding package. The plan involves pushing the package to the House floor under a single debate rule, followed by separate votes on aid for Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, and various foreign policy proposals.
This approach deviates from the $95 billion aid package passed by the Senate in February, raising doubts about its prospects for final passage in Congress. Johnson’s strategy has already incited populist conservatives, with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene threatening to push for his ouster as speaker, emphasizing her opposition to funding Ukraine.
The GOP meeting highlighted the divide among lawmakers on the issue of Ukraine, with defense hawks advocating for the national security supplemental package to be taken up as a bundle, while populist conservatives vehemently oppose continued support for Kyiv’s fight.
Senior Republicans and Democrats are growing impatient with Johnson’s handling of the situation, especially after his assurances to bring Ukraine aid to the floor. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer emphasized the urgency of rushing aid to Israel, urging the House to pass the Senate’s supplemental package quickly.
On the other hand, the White House expressed opposition to a stand-alone bill solely addressing aid for Israel, further complicating the already contentious debate surrounding the wartime aid proposal.