Staff Reports
In a surprising development, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has reversed course and acquiesced to the deep state authorization, discreetly incorporating it into the defense bill. This decision has elicited frustration among many conservatives who were anticipating involvement in shaping the final text of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), a prominent conservative, voiced her displeasure in a video statement, alleging that the NDAA was being unveiled without allowing conferees, including herself, adequate time to review it. She squarely placed blame on Johnson for negotiating an unacceptable deal with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), which included funding for abortion, "trans surgery prohibitions," and a clean FISA extension.
Rep. Davidson is absolutely right. Putting a short term reauth in the NDAA jeopardizes it. Doing so allows the litany of documented abuses of this authority to continue. Americans aren’t okay with that outcome. This Congress can and should take the opportunity to #FixFISA. https://t.co/Ie4u2bdZxx
— James Czerniawski (@JamesCz19) December 6, 2023
Greene contended that this reversal amounted to a betrayal of conservative principles and a significant victory for Democrats. She questioned whether the GOP, under Speaker Johnson, was truly willing to support funding for abortion and transgender surgeries, along with financing the Ukraine war and a clean FISA extension. According to Greene, this marked a complete abandonment of conservative values and a substantial triumph for Democrats.
Republicans who had played a pivotal role in formulating solutions to reform Section 702, a contentious surveillance law, expressed shock and disappointment at Johnson's decision. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) conveyed his dismay, emphasizing that the move would undermine efforts to reform the surveillance law and squander a historic opportunity for change.
Representative Warren Davidson (R-OH) also registered his opposition, cautioning that the inclusion of Section 702 in the NDAA contradicts the sentiments of the American people who oppose warrantless mass surveillance. He warned that this decision could jeopardize the passage of a robust national defense package.
Speaker Johnson's and other congressional leaders' actions have sparked widespread discontent within conservative circles, leading to a significant backlash within the Republican Party. The repercussions of this controversial decision on the overall trajectory of the party remain uncertain.
