The House speakership drama enters a new week under increased urgency as Israel declared war Sunday following unprecedented surprise attacks by Hamas.
Kevin McCarthy\u2019s historic ouster as speaker leaves the House in uncharted legal territory regarding what it can do under acting Speaker Patrick McHenry. When lawmakers return to Washington, they will be under pressure to elect a new speaker swiftly amid the crisis in Israel, which has prompted some calls from within the Republican Party to speed up their timeline given the national security implications of keeping the role vacant.
In a briefing with House leadership Sunday night, Biden administration briefers from the State and Defense Departments told lawmakers they are moving as quickly as they can to deliver weapons and resources to Israel that were part of already existing contracts by accelerating them, three people familiar with the call told CNN. That could help ensure that the US can provide some items as soon as possible even as there are larger questions about how quickly Congress could act on a larger aid package.
Administration officials said they will look to the current $100 million in Presidential Drawdown Authority, which allows the rapid dispatch of weapons from existing stocks, to send more aid immediately, according to a person familiar with the discussion. The drawdown will likely need additional funds from Congress, the officials told lawmakers.
As the\u2002Biden administration looks to provide additional assistance to Israel, officials were unsure Saturday about what could be accomplished without a sitting speaker. While McHenry is serving as speaker pro tempore, he has little power outside of recessing, adjourning or recognizing speaker nominations, and it\u2019s unclear whether he can participate in intelligence briefings on the crisis in Israel.
Multiple lawmakers on national security and appropriations committees have asked for classified briefings, with indications that may happen soon after the Monday national holiday.
Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Sunday that he had conversations with the White House and the National Security Council on Saturday, but he has not yet met with the so-called Gang of Eight \u2013 which typically includes the top leaders and heads of the intelligence committees in both parties and both chambers.
\u201cI do anticipate that we\u2019ll have the opportunity to have a secure briefing at some point next week,\u201d Jeffries told CNN\u2019s Dana Bash on \u201cState of the Union.\u201d
Jeffries said it is his understanding that the Biden administration can make some decisions regarding aid to Israel without waiting for Congress and urged the administration to do so, adding that he expects \u201cit will provide whatever assistance it can.\u201d
House Foreign Affairs Chairman Mike McCaul told Bash on Sunday that the president can use $3.3 billion in foreign military financing that is already appropriated.
The Texas Republican also called McCarthy\u2019s ouster \u201cdangerous.\u201d
\u201cI look at the world and all of the threats that are out there and what kind of message are we sending to adversaries when we can\u2019t govern, when we are dysfunctional, when we don\u2019t even have a speaker of the House?\u201d McCaul said on \u201cState of the Union.\u201d
McCarthy on Saturday slammed his Republican colleagues for removing him from office last week, and stressed the impact of a speakerless House on national security. \u201cWhy would you ever remove a speaker during a term to raise doubt around the world?\u201d McCarthy asked in a Fox News interview.
McCarthy announced shortly after his ouster that he would not seek the speakership again, making room for House Majority Leader Steve Scalise of Louisiana and Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan to launch their bids for the seat.
Former President Donald Trump has thrown his support behind Jordan. Oklahoma Rep. Kevin Hern announced Saturday that he had decided not to run, saying, \u201cI believe a three-man race for speaker will create even more division and make it harder to elect a speaker.\u201d
House Republicans are scheduled to hold a candidate forum on Tuesday and an internal election on Wednesday.
As Jordan and Scalise vie for their colleagues\u2019 support, Jordan said Sunday that he would lay out his plan to address the government funding deadline to his caucus Tuesday.
\u201cWe\u2019ve got to have 218 votes for a Republican speaker, and we\u2019ve got to have 218 votes for how we deal with November 17 when the funding bill for the government comes due. \u2026 I will outline that in front of my colleagues on Tuesday when we get together,\u201d he said on Fox News\u2019 \u201cSunday Morning Futures.\u201d
Jordan said his first order of business, however, would be to bring a resolution to the floor in support of Israel.
It\u2019s unclear when the speaker floor vote will happen, and the timeline is contingent on whether moderate GOP lawmakers can rally around Scalise or Jordan, who are both from more conservative districts.
\u201cWe have to get a speaker elected this week so we can get things on the floor like replenishing the Iron Dome,\u201d McCaul told Bash on Sunday \u2013 referring to Israel\u2019s rocket defense system, which was developed with help from the US. He added that the House should look to pass a resolution condemning Hamas \u201cby unanimous consent whether or not we have a speaker in place because I think we cannot wait. We have to get that message out as soon as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n