Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) is raising serious concerns about the leadership of Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), criticizing the Speaker for crafting a year-end spending bill that, according to Hawley, is loaded with Democratic priorities. Speaking to Fox News host Sean Hannity, Hawley didn’t mince words, saying, “This is the same old, same old. This bill would pile hundreds of billions of dollars onto our national debt, all while advancing the left’s agenda.”
Hawley took particular issue with the massive 1,547-page spending package, which includes provisions like $100 billion in disaster relief, economic aid for farmers, reforms for pharmacy benefit managers, and even a pay raise for lawmakers. Hawley questioned why Republicans would burden President Trump with such a flawed bill before he even takes office, adding, “Why would we saddle Donald Trump with this disaster before he even gets into office?”
The Missouri senator also expressed frustration over the Speaker’s failure to include language to expand the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA), a crucial program for individuals in St. Louis affected by radioactive materials from the Manhattan Project. Hawley blamed Johnson for “killing” a bipartisan effort to extend and expand the RECA program, which expired in June.
Hawley took to social media to criticize Johnson directly, writing on X (formerly Twitter), “Johnson personally killed a bipartisan, bicameral RECA deal. It was him alone.” The senator’s remarks highlight the growing frustration within the GOP ranks over Johnson’s leadership and his handling of critical legislation.
The spending bill has drawn the ire of prominent Republicans, including President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance, who both called for a clean stopgap funding bill combined with a debt ceiling increase, but without the “Democrat giveaways.” In their joint statement, they warned that passing the current package would be “a betrayal of our country.”
Some Republican members of Congress are now openly questioning Johnson’s ability to lead. Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) has already indicated he will not support Johnson for Speaker due to the spending bill, and Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) noted that discussions about replacing Johnson have intensified. “This is the most talk I’ve ever heard about replacing the Speaker,” Ogles remarked, signaling growing discontent within the GOP ranks.
Republicans must take a hard look at their leadership if they hope to deliver on their promises and stop the out-of-control spending that has plagued Washington for far too long.