Livid MTG moves to oust Speaker Johnson

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene on Friday moved to boot House Speaker Mike Johnson the same way his predecessor lost his job. It comes down to Mr. Johnson’s handling of the spending fight and southern border security.

Ms. Greene, Georgia Republican, filed a motion to vacate against the speaker in the middle of the House’s vote on a colossal, $1.2 trillion funding package to keep the government open.

The lawmaker said she wants to get rid of Mr. Johnson because he has “betrayed” the House GOP by working with Democrats to pass the spending bill and broke rules to fast-track the bill to the floor ahead of a looming Friday deadline to fund the government.

“It’s more of a warning and a pink slip. I respect our conference. I paid all my dues to my conference. I’m a member in good standing and I do not wish to inflict pain on our conference and to throw the House in chaos,” Ms. Greene told reporters on the steps of the Capitol.

Ms. Greene’s decision could still wreak havoc if just a few of her GOP colleagues join her.

Members of Mr. Johnson’s right flank have been highly critical of his performance as speaker, whether it be the spending fight or securing the border. But he has made strides in the position, particularly in avoiding government shutdowns.

Raj Shah, a spokesperson for Mr. Johnson, said that he will continue the course.

“Speaker Johnson always listens to the concerns of members, but is focused on governing,” Mr. Shah said. “He will continue to push conservative legislation that secures our border, strengthens our national defense and demonstrates how we’ll grow our majority.”

The motion will not get an immediate vote. House members quickly left town for a two-week recess. Ms. Greene also did not file the motion as privileged, congressional jargon that means it will not force a vote on booting Mr. Johnson.

The motion to vacate could be considered when the House returns in April.

“I’m not saying that it won’t happen in two weeks or it won’t happen in a month or who knows when, but I am saying the clock has started,” Ms. Greene said. “It’s time for our conference to choose a new speaker.”

The move echoes one done by Rep. Matt Gaetz, Florida Republican, in October when he and seven other Republicans ousted former Speaker Kevin McCarthy for his handling of spending and what they called broken promises.

Mr. McCarthy’s ouster sent the House into a spiral for nearly a month, culminating in the selection of Mr. Johnson as his replacement.

Republicans contended they were unified behind Mr. Johnson, but the unity quickly melted away as in-fighting ran rampant, halting the spending process and keeping the House in a holding pattern for much of the past six months.

Mr. Gaetz said Thursday that Mr. Johnson’s job was safe, largely because there was no guarantee House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries would not take over the chamber in a new speaker election.

“I worry that we’ve got Republicans that would vote for Hakeem Jeffries at this point. I really do. I take no joy in saying that,” Mr. Gaetz said. “But you can only vacate the speaker If you know that the party leadership won’t change hands. I knew that with certainty last time. I don’t know it with certainty this time.”

Rep. Tim Burchett, who also voted to oust Mr. McCarthy, said that he too was worried that a repeat would end with Mr. Jeffries winning the gavel.

Mr. Jeffries previously suggested that if Republicans tried to toss Mr. Johnson, Democrats would come to his aid. Democrats unanimously voted to get rid of his predecessor.

Any Democratic help to save Mr. Johnson’s job might come at a steep cost. Rep. Jamie Raskin, Maryland Democrat, said the price for Mr. Johnson to keep that gavel would be rejecting major Republican pillars on foreign aid and the Israel-Hamas war.

“I’m not invested in the particular career aspirations of particular Republican colleagues,” Mr. Raskin said. “That’s for them to sort out, but I will make common cause with anybody who will stand up for the people of Ukraine, anybody who will get desperately needed humanitarian assistance to Gaza, and anybody who will work for a two-state solution.”