Speaker Mike Johnson Says He is Not Afraid to Alter Speakership Vacating Rule

Newly elected Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has expressed his lack of apprehension about altering the rule of vacating the Speakership, a move gaining traction among GOP lawmakers after the historic removal of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) earlier this month.

McCarthy was ousted from his position in a 216-210 vote on what is known as a “motion to vacate,” making him the first Speaker ever to be removed by the House. The decision to change the rule gained momentum after all House Democrats and eight Republicans voted to remove the Speaker’s gavel from McCarthy.

Speaking on Fox News’s “Sunday Morning Futures,” Johnson stated, “Everyone’s here in good faith… and everyone has told me that that rule has to change. Look, I’m not afraid of it because I’m going to openly work transparently and work with every member, and everyone will fully understand what we’re doing and why.” He emphasized the importance of transparency in the decision-making process.

As part of the previous election that appointed McCarthy as Speaker, he agreed to lower the threshold to force a vote on a motion to vacate from five to one. This adjustment allowed Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) to single-handedly call for the vote this week, sparking discontent among Republicans who want to prevent similar situations in the future.

Although changing the rule isn’t his “top priority,” Johnson stated, “My highest priority is to get this work done and to do it in an open and transparent way and, as I said in my speech, to decentralize the power from the Speaker’s office.” He emphasized his focus on empowering committee chairs and other members of the House to be more involved in decision-making processes, aiming to ensure regular order and prevent the need for a motion to vacate in the future.

Johnson, who was elected as the 56th House Speaker, concluded weeks of turmoil and GOP infighting in the lower chamber. His commitment to transparent governance and inclusivity in decision-making processes marks a new direction for the House of Representatives under his leadership.