In a short period of chaos and dissenting viewpoints running rampant in Congress, the U.S. government was projected to shut down on Oct. 1. Democratic and Republican representatives could not find a way to agree on a federal spending bill, leaving the government without a means to fund the country’s agencies and mechanisms.
Hope seemed lost as Congress continued to squabble with each other, and as a shutdown seemed imminent, a deal was struck. The very night before federal agencies were set to close their doors, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy abandoned Republican demands and opted for a deal that would satisfy Democrats. From now until Nov. 17, the government will continue running as intended.
Avoiding a shutdown was a successful endeavor for Democrats, although Republican infighting was at an all-time high. Conservative animosity and spite toward McCarthy led to a vote to oust him from the position of House Speaker a few days later, on Oct. 3.
The conservative opposition was headed by Florida Representative Matt Gaetz, who issued the motion to vacate the Speaker. He told CNN, “He lied to Biden. He lied to House conservatives. He had appropriators marking to a different number altogether.”
The motion only required a simple majority, and when the time came to vote, Democrats chose not to save the Speaker. Gaetz, and seven more far-right Republican representatives, joined them, finalizing the vote at 216-210.
McCarthy conceded his position following the vote, saying, “I fought for what I believe in. I believe I can continue to fight, but maybe in a different manner.”
What happens next? Republican representatives who want to take over the position can run, and the House will vote on their preferred candidates. Currently, representatives Steve Scalise, Jim Jordan, and Kevin Hern are eager to claim the powerful role.
Republicans are looking for a person they can trust more than McCarthy. They are likely to opt for someone further right, who is unwilling to work with Democrats and who will follow through with their promises to Republicans. The future remains unknown for now, but a vote to establish the next Speaker after this unprecedented ousting is sure to arrive shortly.
