Republicans Are Rebelling Against Mike Johnson

By Mandy Taheri

Politics and Culture Reporter

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Several rifts have opened within the House GOP in recent weeks, with some Republicans taking issue with Speaker Mike Johnson over government spending, health care, and disputed provisions in bills such as the annual defense policy and a proposed ban on lawmakers trading stocks.

Newsweek has reached out to Johnson’s press team for comment via email on Wednesday.

Why It Matters

Johnson has come under increased scrutiny and pressure in recent months, in particular during the federal government shutdown, with some lawmakers accusing him of delaying the swearing in of then-Democratic Representative Adelita Grijalva to avoid a vote on releasing the files related to the disgraced financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, who has since had a falling out with Trump, pressed Johnson to allow a vote to release the Epstein files, and later, after announcing her retirement, criticized his leadership, causing further tension among the GOP caucus.

Less than a year into the second Trump administration, some GOP members have also become frustrated that their majorities in the House and Senate are not being fully utilized to pass legislation at the pace before the 2026 midterms, and some have criticized Johnson’s leadership.

Johnson’s slim House majority gives GOP holdouts outsized leverage, often forcing the speaker to bargain with dissenters or change course. In addition, several Republican members have announced their retirement and have been vocal about their discontent with Congress and, at times, leadership.

Representative Elise Stefanik's Disputed Provision

Representative Elise Stefanik, a top Trump ally who is running for governor in New York, has been trying to pass legislation in response to the FBI’s investigation into the GOP president's 2016 campaign and Russia. With Republican control of the House and Senate, she thought this was an opportunity to push this forward, but she is accusing Johnson of standing in the way.

The chairwoman of House Republican Leadership blasted Johnson over the matter on Tuesday, writing on X: "I just walked out of a briefing on this issue this morning CONFIRMING everything I posted yesterday. That yes, in fact, the Speaker is blocking my provision to root out the illegal weaponization that led to Crossfire Hurricane, Arctic Frost, and more. He is siding with Jamie Raskin against Trump Republicans to block this provision to protect the deep state. This is an easy one. This bill is DOA unless this provision gets added in as it was passed out of committee.”

Later that day, during a press conference, Johnson responded to a question about Stefanik's rebuke, saying "all" of her accusations are "false."

"I don't know exactly why Elise won't just call me. I texted her yesterday. She's upset one of her provisions is not being made, I think, into the NDAA. I explained to her in a text message, as soon as I heard this, yesterday…I said, 'What are you talking about? This hasn't even made it to my level?'"

The NDAA was sent to the House from the Senate on November 12, where it remains held pending further amendments and votes. If Stefanik is joined by other GOP members in withdrawing her support for the NDAA, Johnson could face a problem getting the bill passed. He can only lose two votes at the moment, with the party holding a slim majority in the House.

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Stock Ban Discharge Petition

Representative Anna Paulina Luna introduced a discharge petition on Tuesday that would bypass Johnson’s direction and force a vote on a bipartisan ban that would ban members of Congress from trading individual stocks.

She wrote in an X post: "Today WE introduced the bipartisan legislation that will ban members of Congress from being able to partake in the insider, trading cartel happening here in the House of Representatives. We had to do it via discharge petition because of the BS on the back end. And yes, there is BS."

The petition requires 218 signatures in order to trigger a vote, as was the case last month over the Epstein files.

Republican Representative Chip Roy introduced the bill to ban members of Congress and their family members from trading stocks, drawing support from fellow Republicans and Democrats.

Earlier this year, Johnson appeared in support of the bill, saying he does not support any “impropriety,” but also noted that he has “some sympathy” for the “counterargument” members have made, noting that lawmakers’ pay has been frozen since 2009 and has not kept pace with inflation.

Health Care Plan

Republicans are trying to piece together a health care plan as some Affordable Care Act subsidies near expiration, but it remains unclear whether moderates and conservatives can unite behind a new policy. Some GOP lawmakers have criticized the speaker on the matter, arguing the party has yet to offer a credible alternative.

What Happens Next

Johnson also faces other party divides over Russia sanctions and procedural moves in the House. Amid the internal chaos, the next Congressional funding deadline is January 30, 2026, when the current stopgap measure expires and Congress must act to avert another shutdown.

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