Apr 18, 2024 - Politics & Policy

Mike Johnson skips nuclear option that would protect his speakership

Juliegrace Brufke

This is Mike Johnson — Photo via Getty Images

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has opted not to attempt to change the rules on removing people from the speaker job, he said Thursday.

Why it matters: The decision comes as Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) and Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) threaten to pull the trigger on a resolution to oust him amid conservative outrage over the speaker pushing Ukraine aid without border language attached.

Zoom in: Johnson had been urged by some members to restore the threshold for introducing a motion to vacate that was lowered by former Speaker Kevin McCarthy to a single member.

That change "harmed this office and our House majority," Johnson said on Thursday.
"While I understand the importance of that idea, any rule change requires a majority of the full House, which we do not have."

The bottom line: Johnson will now push forward on the foreign aid package, knowing he'll likely face an ouster attempt in the coming days.

Go deeper: Live updates on the Johnson speaker saga

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Mike Johnson skips nuclear option that would protect his speakership

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