WASHINGTON — House Speaker Mike Johnson said Wednesday he plans to break through a high-stakes impasse on Ukraine aid with a Saturday night vote— as opponents of new funding for Kyiv threaten to oust him in protest.
Johnson (R-La.) revealed in a message to House Republicans that legislation containing a Ukraine aid plan would be unveiled later in the day, and would include a loan component in an apparent concession to Republican skeptics like former President Donald Trump.
“After significant Member feedback and discussion, the House Rules Committee will be posting soon today the text of three bills that will fund America’s national security interests and allies in Israel, the Indo-Pacific, and Ukraine, including a loan structure for aid, and enhanced strategy and accountability,” Johnson said.
“These will be brought to the floor under a structured rule that will allow for an amendment process, alongside a fourth bill that includes the REPO Act, TikTok bill, sanctions and other measures to confront Russia, China, and Iran. The Rules Committee will also be posting text on a border security bill that includes the core components of H.R.2, under a separate rule that will allow for amendments,” he said.
“Text of the first three bills will be posted shortly, while the fourth bill under the same rule will be posted later today. The border security bill will also be posted later today,” Johnson added.
“By posting text of these bills as soon as they are completed, we will ensure time for a robust amendment process. We expect the vote on final passage on these bills to be on Saturday evening.”
The House speaker visited Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Fla., on April 12 to discuss Ukraine and other issues with the 45th president.
Trump told the press afterward that he supports Johnson against threats by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) to attempt to oust him via a motion to vacate.
Libertarian Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) said Tuesday he would be willing to cosponsor Greene’s motion.
The Senate in February passed a $95 billion foreign aid package, including $60 billion for Ukraine’s defense against Russia’s two-year-old invasion — on top of $113 billion appropriated earlier in the conflict.
Republican skeptics have argued there’s a need for greater oversight of spending in the notoriously corrupt Eastern European country and have urged a greater focus on resolving the conflict with a peace deal, which Trump has vowed to personally broker if he retakes the White House Nov. 5.
Johnson has expressed qualms about the source of funding for Ukraine — floating using seized Russian funds — and has objected to what he says is a lack of clear US objectives in the conflict.
House Republicans have a narrow 218-213 majority, meaning only a small handful of dissenters can doom Johnson if Democrats also vote to oust him — as happened in October when eight Republicans joined all Democrats to remove then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.).
Johnson is believed to have fewer personal enemies than McCarthy among fellow Republicans and has survived earlier blowback over policy.
It is possible that Democrats — who have for months clamored for Ukraine aid — would either support Johnson against a motion to vacate or sit out the vote, which would insulate the speaker from his Republican foes.