It's happening again: Greene moves to force vote on ousting speaker

Another spending bill, another effort to knock off a Republican speaker.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) has filed a motion to oust Speaker Mike Johnson, setting up a high-stakes vote of confidence in his leadership as conservatives lament the Louisiana Republican's passage of a $1.2 trillion government funding deal with mostly Democratic votes. Greene might not ultimately succeed in terminating Johnson's speakership, but she was adamant about punishing him for the spending deal he struck with Democrats.

“This is a betrayal of the American people. This is a betrayal of Republican voters,” Greene said after the funding package passed. “The clock has started. It’s time for our conference to pick a new speaker.”

Greene’s move immediately set corners of the Republican Party on edge: A presidential election and a fight for congressional control looms in November, and the last thing many in the GOP want is another internal firefight. Congress is now heading into a two-week recess sure to be dominated by questions of whether Johnson can hold on to the gavel, particularly in a chamber where the GOP holds just a two-vote majority.