Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-Wis., was set to leave Congress on Friday, but a key vote on foreign aid on Saturday night may lead to him to sticking around another day.
The Wisconsin Republican said he is considering delaying his resignation so he can support House Speaker Mike Johnson's, R-La. foreign aid package, which includes funds for allies including Ukraine and Israel. Several Republican congressmen, including Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, have already voiced their opposition to the package, meaning Johnson will need support from Democrats to pass the bill.
"The congressman has the flexibility to stay and support the aid package on Saturday," a spokesperson for Gallagher told Politico.
The foreign aid package also includes Gallagher's legislation requiring the forced sale of TikTok from its Chinese owner, another incentive for him to stay.
Gallagher announced in March he would resign from Congress, a month after declaring he would not run for a fifth term.
Aside from Israel and Ukraine, the package provides aid to Taiwan and the Indo-Pacific, and includes the REPO Act, which provides assets to Ukraine, using assets seized by the Central Bank of the Russian Federation.
Needing Democrat support to pass the aid package will likely further inflame critics of the speaker. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., and Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky. have announced they will be calling a vote for Johnson's ouster.
"You are seriously out of step with Republicans by continuing to pass bills dependent on Democrats," Greene tweeted on X, formerly known as Twitter. "Everyone sees through this."
A border security bill, separate from the aid package, will also be voted on.
A spokesman for Gallagher did not respond to an immediate request for comment.
Sam Barron ✉
Sam Barron has almost two decades of experience covering a wide range of topics including politics, crime and business.
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