Burning Down the House: The Unmitigated Disaster of House Republican Gridlock in February 2024

The House of Representatives, an institution known for its dysfunction and political arson, has reached new heights of chaos in February 2024. The Republican majority, which has struggled to maintain control for over a year, has been burning down their own House in unprecedented ways.

The first lines of Talking Heads’ ’80s anthem “Burning Down the House” serve as a warning to the listener. The tumultuous musical adventure that follows is a fitting metaphor for the current state of the U.S. House of Representatives. The lyrics, which fit together but don’t make any sense, mirror the political landscape in Washington, D.C.

Republicans, who hold the majority, have been striking matches and pouring gasoline all over the place. The House, which has mastered dysfunction, is now seemingly out of control. Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., criticized the Senate’s bipartisan $118 billion border security and foreign aid package, but the House has blocked its own bills from hitting the floor an astounding six times in the past eight months.

The House usually requires lawmakers to approve a “rule” to allocate debate time and dictate whether amendments are in order before legislation can come to the floor. The majority usually votes yes, greenlighting the debate, while the minority opposes the rule. However, Republicans have torched their own rule six times, a startling figure that surpasses the previous majorities’ two defeats in the previous 23 years.

The struggles of House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., are reminiscent of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., who empathized with Johnson’s challenges. Pelosi acknowledged the difficulty of respecting members on both sides of the aisle, building consensus, and prioritizing issues without putting people out on a limb on insignificant matters.

The House has been in a state of disarray since the 15-round Speaker’s race in January 2023, which was the first such exercise since 1858. The narrow majority, which only had a two-vote margin, has made governing a daunting task for Johnson.

The House’s inability to function effectively has led to frustration and exasperation among lawmakers. Rep. Mike Quigley, D-Ill., lamented that “we can’t get anything done,” while Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., the top Democrat on the House Rules Committee, criticized the Republicans for barely hanging onto their majority by their fingernails.

The Senate, which voted in favor of a $95 billion international spending bill, may see another one around the corner. House Republicans have failed to pass legislation on crucial issues, such as impeaching Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and aiding Israel. The defeats have come at a cost, as the GOP’s meager majority has dwindled even further with the election of former Rep. Tom Suozzi, D-N.Y., who will replace expelled Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y.

The House’s gridlock has led some Republicans to take aim at Johnson. They regret the House ditching former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., and are infuriated by the lack of progress in the House. Rep. Carlos Gimenez, R-Fla., criticized the leadership for indecision and making late play calls, while Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., urged the Republicans to think strategically over the long-term.

The gridlock in the House has also led to retirements among committee chairs, including Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Kay Granger, R-Tex., Energy and Commerce Committee Chairwoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., special China committee Chairman Mike Gallagher, R-Wisc., Financial Services Committee Chairman Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., and Homeland Security Committee Chairman Mark Green, R-Tenn. Green, who saw the impeachment of Mayorkas as an opportunity to go out on top, will serve as the lead impeachment manager in the Senate.

The Monmouth University poll found that only 17 percent of people approve of the job Congress is doing. However, some argue that political paralysis is better than passing lousy legislation and spending more money for the sake of it. The gridlock in the House, which has led to the potential shutdown of the government, is a testament to the American people’s desire for limited government and self-determination.

Chad Pergram currently serves as a senior congressional correspondent for FOX News Channel. He joined the network in September 2007 and is based out of Washington, D.C.