Speaker Mike Johnson unveiled a plan for moving foreign aid through the House of Representatives during a closed-door meeting with Republican lawmakers. His plan includes separate bills for aid to Ukraine, Taiwan, Israel, and miscellaneous national security priorities. Johnson indicated that a vote on these bills is anticipated to occur by Friday, with the text being expected early on Tuesday. This move comes as a response to growing pressure to act on funding for Israel and Ukraine, amid mounting conflicts and divisions within the House GOP over conditions for providing aid overseas.
The House GOP’s plan to break apart the Senate’s supplemental aid package into separate bills has received support from a significant share of Republicans. This move is seen as a way to appease fiscal hawks who might have otherwise blocked the bills from reaching the floor. While some members, including Rep. Nancy Mace, expressed support for the plan, others, such as members of the House Freedom Caucus, remained skeptical. The plan does not currently include border security measures, despite calls from some members to include them in the proposal.
While Johnson’s plan for separate aid bills has garnered support from some Republicans, others are hesitant about certain aspects of the proposal. Members of the House Freedom Caucus have expressed doubts about whether border security measures will ultimately be included in the deal. Some have also voiced concerns about the lack of spending offsets, with Rep. Bob Good stating that funding bills should not be borrowed and should be paid for through amendments. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene criticized the plan, arguing that funding foreign aid should not take priority over addressing domestic policy issues like border security and military rebuilding.
Many House Republicans in the meeting with Johnson expressed support for the plan to split the Senate’s supplemental aid package into separate bills. Despite some reservations from members of the House Freedom Caucus and other lawmakers, Johnson’s proposal is moving forward. The plan is expected to allow for amendments to be offered by members prior to the vote on the bills. While some Republicans have called for border security measures to be included, the current proposal does not include them, leading to mixed reactions from within the GOP conference. Ultimately, the fate of Johnson’s aid plan remains to be seen as it progresses through the House of Representatives.
