Can New House Speaker Mike Johnson Prevent The Looming Government Shutdown?

The House Republicans now have a fresh leader who provides a new viewpoint on the imminent funding crisis. The government is set to shut down in 24 days without a funding solution, a situation the new Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) is eager to address.

As per an analysis by Politico, Johnson is unlikely to lose his position for supporting a spending patch to avoid a funding lapse on Nov. 17, unlike his predecessor Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.). The two main reasons behind this are that House conservatives trust Johnson more than they did McCarthy, and time is running out.

Johnson, who has only been in Congress since 2017, is backing a so-called continuing resolution through Jan. 15 or Apr. 15, depending on which date garners more GOP support. However, Johnson also requires the backing of Senate Democrats and the White House, potentially necessitating a deal on tens of billions of dollars in aid for Ukraine, Israel, and the southern border.

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Several hardliners who voted against McCarthy assert that Johnson offers a fresh start. They believe that under Johnson's leadership, there is a genuine intention to push for single-subject bills, something they felt was lacking under McCarthy. This sentiment was echoed by Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) who noted a sincerity in Johnson's approach.

Rep. Bob Good (R-Va.), who voted to remove McCarthy, acknowledged the difficult position Johnson has inherited due to the failures of the previous speaker. However, he also noted a newfound level of trust with Speaker Johnson that did not exist previously.

For now, conservatives seem willing to extend to Johnson the grace they denied McCarthy, giving the new Speaker a chance to navigate the complicated waters of funding and policy.

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