House Republicans Block Key Legislation, Putting Speaker Mike Johnson’s Leadership at Risk

Nineteen far-right members on Wednesday opposed a procedural hurdle known as a rule, preventing FISA and three other proposals from being debated and ultimately voted on this week.

Hard-liners had telegraphed that they would sink the procedural vote if the House Rules Committee did not include a change to the legislation to reshape how those services surveil malicious foreign actors, by ensuring that they don’t spy on U.S. citizens swept up in the communications-gathering without a warrant.

“KILL FISA, IT WAS ILLEGALLY USED AGAINST ME, AND MANY OTHERS. THEY SPIED ON MY CAMPAIGN!!!” former president Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Trump supporters falsely claim that without reforms, the “weaponized” Justice Department under President Biden will continue to target Trump and other conservatives. Spy agencies, however, do not have authority to surveil U.S. citizens under FISA.

Republicans left their second party meeting about FISA on Wednesday without agreeing on a path forward. The one-hour gathering was described by lawmakers as “tense,” “a venting session,” and “a s—show.” Several Republicans lambasted colleagues for opposing the rule, which has now frozen any legislative action this week.

Rep. Tom McClintock (R-Calif.) was the sharpest critic, asking leadership to reimpose norms that would lead to punishment against more than two dozen Republicans who vote against such procedural motions essential to governing the House.

Figuring out how to reauthorize FISA as privacy and national security hawks war within the House GOP conference poses more tricky math for Johnson. Yet his speakership is on the line as Rep. Marjorie Taylor-Greene (R-Ga.) and other far-right members of the House Freedom Caucus weigh whether it’s worth ousting him based on how he navigates legislation that would reauthorize FISA and send additional funding to foreign allies like Ukraine and Israel.

Both FISA and Ukraine have fiercely divided Republicans, who have been unable to find consensus as the far-right pushes for ideological purity for bills that must also be approved by a Democratic Senate and White House.

“He is the leader of the opposition party against the Biden administration, and we expect him to lead that way, not to pass the Biden administration’s agenda,” Greene said after meeting with Johnson earlier Wednesday. Greene — who supported the rule but intends to vote against final passage — is threatening to move on a motion to oust the speaker if he puts legislation to fund Ukraine on the floor or does not include a warrant provision in the final FISA legislation.

Without a solution, House Republicans expressed annoyance that they will ultimately have to pass another FISA extension without changes or take up any bipartisan bill sent out by the Senate. Those furthest to the right favor allowing FISA to lapse instead of supporting any measure that does not include their demands.

“Anybody who supports shutting down FISA and making us blind to terrorist threats will equally own future calamities that are certain to come if we let our guard down,” Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) wrote in a statement following the House’s failed vote.