The Washington PostDemocracy Dies in Darkness

Speaker Johnson moves on foreign aid, possibly triggering vote to oust him

The House Freedom Caucus has already panned the proposal, which includes a separate vote on border security that was intended to mollify hard-right members

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Updated April 17, 2024 at 11:01 p.m. EDT|Published April 17, 2024 at 12:36 p.m. EDT
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) is walking a tightrope, attempting to save his job while also funding foreign allies. (Haiyun Jiang for The Washington Post)
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House Speaker Mike Johnson is plowing ahead on a foreign aid plan that has roiled his conference and prompted two Republicans to push an effort to oust him from the chamber’s top job.

But instead of the complex four-part plan he floated this week, Johnson now intends to try to pass five bills — one each for aid to Ukraine, Israel, and Indo-Pacific allies, as well as a GOP wish list of foreign policy priorities and a fifth stand-alone bill to address widespread Republican demands to strengthen the southern U.S. border. GOP leadership announced that the House would stay in session until Saturday to consider the bills.