GOP civil war intensifies as five including Marjorie Taylor Greene sink key vote with just nine days until shutdown

  • The typically widely popular bill had been loaded up with conservative riders meant to attract right-wing Republicans
  • ‘We’re very dysfunctional right now,’ said Rep. Tim Burchett
  • Before this Congress no rule vote had failed since 2002 – now this is the third time this year 
  • READ MORE: Republican Chip Roy says his colleagues are going to ‘eat a s*** sandwich’ and ‘deserve it’ 

Republican hardliners delivered a stunning blow to Speaker Kevin McCarthy on Thursday by sinking a 2024 defense spending bill for the second time in 48 hours.

GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and four other rebels voted with Democrats to block the Pentagon funding package as the party devolved further into chaos.

McCarthy and his leadership team thought they had the votes to pass a procedural vote to begin debate on the defense plan which was filled with conservative-friendly policies.

But critics voted 216 – 212 not to start a debate and demanded deeper spending cuts.

It put even more pressure on McCarthy as he battles a rebellion from colleagues who want him out as Speaker. 

McCarthy said: ‘This is a whole new concept of individuals that just want to burn the whole place down. It doesn’t work.’

But critics voted 216 – 212 not to start a debate and demanded deeper spending cuts.

It put even more pressure on McCarthy as he battles a rebellion from colleagues who want him out as Speaker. 

McCarthy said: ‘This is a whole new concept of individuals that just want to burn the whole place down. It doesn’t work.’

Rep. Tim Burchett told reporters: ‘We’re very dysfunctional right now. They obviously can’t count,’ he said of GOP leadership.

The failed procedural vote came after a two-hour Republican meeting on Wednesday night where those who opposed spending legislation had a chance to air their grievances. 

It could spell an inordinate amount of trouble for trying to push through a spending bill to keep the federal government open.  

To do so Congress needs to pass either a short-term continuing resolution, known as a CR, and continue debating 12 separate spending bills or one large full-year funding bill.