Trump Ally Pushes Republicans to Leave Party

Senator Mike Lee is asking why Republicans supporting House Speaker Mike Johnson's plan to avoid a government shutdown do not leave the GOP.

Lee, a Utah Republican and Donald Trump ally, spoke out against House Republicans' plans to keep the government open through the rest of the year in a post to X (formerly Twitter) late Monday night.

Johnson is proposing a plan to extend government funding for some agencies and programs until January 19 and continue funding for others until February 2. His plan would avoid a government shutdown before the holidays and would give Republicans more time to reach a consensus on a long-term deal to pass a series of appropriations bills to fund the government through the fiscal year.

But his plan is facing backlash from some conservatives, who are demanding more spending cuts in exchange for their support.

Congress is expected to vote on Johnson's plan on Tuesday, just days before the November 17 deadline to avert a shutdown, which would have wide-reaching effects for millions of federal workers and other Americans.

Lee, however, said Republicans should oppose the bill. In a post to X, he pointed out that it would keep funding at the same levels that were in the last appropriations bill, which was passed by Democrats in 2022, rather than prioritizing conservative spending policies.

He wrote that Republicans supporting the plan need to "ask themselves" whether they are really Democrats.

"Republicans in Congress who vote to perpetuate Pelosi spending levels should ask themselves whether they're in the right party. And so should those who elected them," Lee said, referring to former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat.

Newsweek reached out to Lee's and Johnson's offices for comment via email.

While Johnson's continuing resolution does not include any of the spending cuts advocated by conservatives but opposed by Democrats, it does have a provision favored by MAGA Republicans: no additional funding for Ukraine. However, it does not include funding for Israel or U.S.-Mexico border security, policies supported by some of those conservatives.

Lee's post received support from Donald Trump Jr., who reshared and captioned it "This!!!"

Several House Republicans have already said they plan to vote against Johnson's funding plan, meaning he will need Democratic support to pass the continuing resolution. He can afford only four detractors because of the Republicans' slim majority in the house, and more than that have already suggested they oppose it.

Republicans have been engaged in a months-long battle over government funding as the party has struggled to reach an agreement to appease both conservative hard-liners and moderates representing competitive congressional districts. In September, former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy got a temporary extension passed, giving Congress until November 17 to pass the appropriations bill.

Working with Democrats on that bill, McCarthy drew MAGA Republicans' ire, and Representative Matt Gaetz of Florida filed a successful motion to vacate the speaker's office, forcing Republicans to spend weeks trying to select a new speaker rather than focusing on legislation to fund the government.