Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (Republican from Georgia) has unexpectedly filed a motion to remove House Speaker Mike Johnson (Republican from Louisiana) because he allowed the House to vote on a $1.2 trillion government funding bill today that included funding for “trans ideology,” as she described it. This bill mostly left out her and other far-right Republicans’ desired anti-LGBTQ+ provisions.The bill passed the House this morning with a 286-134 vote.
“I filed the motion to vacate today, but it’s more of a warning and a pink slip,” Greene stated to reporters after submitting the motion. according to CNN. “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 into chaos.”
Once the House formally acknowledges Greene’s motion, it will have two days to decide whether to take action on it. The House is getting ready for a two-week recess, and Greene said she wouldn’t ask to be recognized on Friday.
While speaking to reporters on Friday morning, Greene falsely stated that the bill “funds full-term abortion” (meaning abortions up to the point that the fetus can live outside of the birthing parent, which isn’t legal anywhere in the U.S.).
“It funds [diversity, equity, and inclusion policies]. It funds trans ideology on our youth as young as 12 years old. We’re already in crisis,” she said.
Conservatives within the House Freedom Caucus had attempted to use budget negotiations to end government funding of any entity that “promotes transgenderism” or provides gender-affirming care; any federal agencies pursuing policies to expand diversity, equality, and inclusivity (DEI); any legal consequences for federal contractors who discriminate against LGBTQ+ people but claim their religion made them do it; and any implementation of the Department of Education’s rules requiring schools to accommodate trans students. The newly released federal spending bill, revealed on Thursday,.
contained nearly none of the over 40 anti-LGBTQ+ “policy riders” that far-right Republicans wanted. The single anti-LGBTQ+ provision remaining in the bill prevents Pride flags from being flown over U.S. embassies in foreign countries, something that embassies can creatively work around.“Our Republican majority is a complete failure,” Greene wrote in a Thursday post on X,
expressing her disapproval of the federal spending bill. “Speaker Johnson is funding the government that has created this invasion,” she wrote alongside video footage of immigrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border. “I’m voting NO! SHUT IT DOWN!” Greene recently appeared on theReal America’s Voice
broadcast of Steve Bannon, a former official in the administration of President Donald Trump. she would evaluate whether to oust Johnson “on a minute-by-minute” basis. In late 2023, Republican House members adopted a rule that allows them to easily oust their speaker. The rule was used to oust former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) in late 2023 after he worked with Democrats to pass a budget bill, something She said Johnson is currently accused of committing a certain action.
It’s not clear who Republicans might select as Johnson’s replacement, since Johnson was literally the fifth choice for Speaker. U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL), who led McCarthy’s removal late last year, said that House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) could potentially become the next speaker due to the Republicans’ narrow House majority and internal conflicts over party leadership. “We would have Republicans siding with the other party. I am concerned that we have Republicans who would support Hakeem Jeffries at this moment. I truly am,” Gaetz said. “I don't take pleasure in saying that. But you can only replace the speaker if you are certain that the party leadership will not change. I was certain of that last time. I am not certain of it this time.”.
She submitted a motion to vacate just a few months before the election. Some Republicans believe they could lose control of the House.
“We’d have Republicans cross over. I worry that we’ve got Republicans who would vote for Hakeem Jeffries at this point. I really do,” Gaetz said. “I take no joy in saying that. 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.”
