Key facts
- House floor proceedings are stalled due to Republican holdouts rejecting Speaker Mike Johnson's legislative plan.
- Rep. Anna Paulina Luna demanded the SAVE America Act be attached as an amendment to the Pentagon bill.
- The impasse threatens the advancement of the annual Pentagon bill and fiscal 2027 spending for the State Department.
- A resolution commemorating the anniversary of tax-cut legislation is also delayed.
- President Donald Trump has urged Republicans not to blockade the floor, but some holdouts ignored the directive.
House floor proceedings have been frozen due to internal Republican divisions, with holdouts rejecting Speaker Mike Johnson's strategy for advancing key legislation. The immediate casualty is the annual Pentagon bill, along with the fiscal 2027 spending bill for the State Department and other agencies, which were slated for consideration before a weeklong July 4 recess.
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna of Florida has been a vocal opponent, demanding that the SAVE America Act be attached as an amendment to the Pentagon bill. This demand came even after Johnson's procedural vote failed on Tuesday. The divisions among Republicans in the House mirror similar stalls in the Senate, where Republican senators' disagreements have also impeded progress.
President Donald Trump has exerted pressure on congressional Republicans, previously canceling a housing bill signing to push for Senate passage of legislation. Following a meeting with Johnson at the White House, Trump instructed GOP members not to obstruct floor proceedings. However, Luna and other holdouts did not comply with this directive.
Rep. Jim McGovern of Massachusetts, the top Democrat on the House Rules Committee, described the situation as "unhinged," questioning the ongoing disruptions. He expressed concern over the weekly uncertainty, citing potential outbursts, Trump's social media posts, and Johnson bringing measures to the floor without sufficient votes.