Already a subscriber? Make sure to log into your account before viewing this content. You can access your account by hitting the “login” button on the top right corner. Still unable to see the content after signing in? Make sure your card on file is up-to-date.

A centrist Democrat, Rep. Josh Gottheimer, is proposing a change in House rules to protect Speaker Mike Johnson from potential ousting by GOP hard-liners, contingent on a vote for a stalled foreign aid package. This package includes significant funding for Ukraine, Israel, and other allies.

The proposal aims to make it more challenging for a single lawmaker to initiate a vote to remove the Speaker, a rule change motivated by the current debate over foreign assistance and the threat it poses to Johnson’s position.

Gottheimer’s resolution seeks to alter the current process, allowing a motion to vacate the Speaker’s position only with party leadership authorization or a majority caucus or conference decision. This change mirrors the rules under former Speaker Nancy Pelosi and is designed to shield Johnson amid conservative warnings of his removal over the foreign aid vote. The proposal’s success, however, remains uncertain as it requires majority support in the chamber.

This comes as Congress remains divided over a $95 billion foreign aid bill that recently passed the Senate. Speaker Johnson and some House conservatives have criticized the bill for lacking border security measures. Despite the standoff, there is increasing pressure to proceed with Ukraine aid due to escalating concerns about Kyiv’s position in the war with Russia. The potential consequences of a vote on this aid pose significant risks to Johnson’s leadership within the GOP, with figures like Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene threatening to remove him from his position.