House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) is facing increased pressure from Democrats to include humanitarian aid for various global hot spots in a foreign aid package, adding to the already complex balancing act he must navigate to secure passage of the legislation. The demands from Democrats, led by Rep. Susan Wild (D-Pa.), complicate Johnson's efforts to appease competing demands from all ends of the ideological spectrum within his own party.
In a letter sent to Johnson on Tuesday, eight House Democrats urged the speaker to include at least $9.16 billion in aid to countries facing violent conflicts and other humanitarian crises. The lawmakers specifically called for assistance to Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan, Haiti, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Venezuela, and Lebanon. "By abdicating this responsibility, our nation would allow unstable areas around the world to grow even more volatile-fueling threats to our security," the Democrats wrote.
The inclusion of humanitarian aid, particularly for Palestinians, is a contentious issue among the Republican lawmakers Johnson is attempting to appease. Many House Democrats cited the lack of such assistance as their reason for voting against a standalone Israel aid bill in February. However, non-military aid to Ukraine and government spending, in general, are also unpopular among some GOP members.
One House Democrat, speaking on the condition of anonymity, described Johnson's predicament as a "nightmare version of choose-your-own adventure," stating, "He's a bit boxed in. He goes one way, he loses votes, he goes another way, he loses votes, and he's got people who are talking about throwing him out every day."
To pass any foreign aid bills, Johnson will need to rely on a process that requires a two-thirds majority, making Democratic support crucial. However, Democrats have expressed displeasure with Johnson's proposals to structure Ukraine aid as a loan and attach legislation to lift a pause on liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports and seize frozen Russian assets. "You throw LNG in there, that's a huge poison pill. I'm not sure people will swallow that pill on the Democratic side," the House Democrat said.
On the other hand, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) has threatened to trigger a vote to remove Johnson as speaker if he holds a Ukraine aid vote in any form, highlighting the delicate balance Johnson must strike within his own party. A House Republican close to the speaker told Axios that the chances of additional humanitarian aid getting a vote in the House are "slim."
The Democrats' letter, first reported by Axios, was led by Rep. Susan Wild (D-Pa.) and signed by Reps. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.), Jim McGovern (D-Mass.), Madeleine Dean (D-Pa.), Seth Moulton (D-Mass.), Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), and Dina Titus (D-Nev.), along with Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.).
While humanitarian assistance is unlikely to be excluded from a Johnson-proposed aid package due to the need for Democratic support, there could be restrictions on how the money is used. Republicans are intent on maintaining a ban on U.S. funds for UNRWA, the United Nations relief agency for Palestinians, which is under scrutiny for ties to Hamas. Additionally, it remains unclear how many Republicans are willing to provide humanitarian assistance for Ukraine, with some GOP lawmakers distinguishing between sending weapons and calling for Europe to share more of the burden of economic and humanitarian aid.
As Johnson navigates the competing demands and ideological differences within his party and across the aisle, the House Democrat emphasized the speaker's limited options, stating, "Johnson is going to have to do whatever he can to get as many Republicans [as he can]. But, the lawmaker said, Johnson does this with Democrats. I think there's no other way around it. ... The question is: How can he save the most face in the process?"
