In remarks to the press on Friday, Johnson defended the deal as a “strong top-line agreement” that allows the House to “complete the appropriations process.”
“Our topline agreement remains,” Johnson later said. “We are getting our next steps together, and we are working toward a robust appropriations process. So stay tuned for all that.”
His statement did not stop some of those pushing him to rip up the agreement from holding out hope that the Speaker could push for some of their alternative plans.
“Well, he has not rescinded it yet. But I am quite certain he is legitimately considering alternatives,” said Rep. Bob Good (R-Va.), the chairman of the House Freedom Caucus. He called for lower spending levels and a change in border policies.
Good was among a group of hardliners who huddled with Johnson on the House floor just before the Speaker delivered his statement.
The holdouts are pushing Johnson to rip up the bipartisan agreement, which including $1.59 trillion in funding plus roughly $69 billion in additional budget tweaks.
But that push has been met with additional exasperation and frustration from other Republican appropriators and members — who are pushing Johnson to move forward with the bipartisan deal.
The Hill’s Emily Brooks has more here.
