The clock is ticking and pressure is mounting for House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. As of Monday Sept. 18, 2023, Congress is barrelling towards a probable government shutdown, which could have devastating consequences for everyday Americans, McCarthy included. On Oct. 1, 2023, hundreds of government agencies could stop operating due to a lack of funding, furloughing thousands of workers across the country. Without a consequent bipartisan solution for the passing of all 12 appropriation bills, Congress’ fate seems set in stone. How could elected American politicians push our nation’s government workers to the edge of the precipice? It comes down to a simple answer: the toxic House Freedom Caucus.
McCarthy’s inability to curtail hardline Republicans towards bipartisan consensus is symptomatic of greater political woes plaguing America. Right-wing politicians are shamelessly ready to prioritize their personal agendas over those of our nation as a whole. From Texas’ Chip Roy to Florida’s Matt Gaetz, without forgetting Georgia’s Marjorie Taylor Greene, House Freedom Caucus members have systematically refused to sit at the negotiation table. Rather, they simply expect their outlandish demands to be met. By ceding to their interests in hopes of keeping his job, McCarthy sets a dangerous precedent in motion: future GOP Speakers will have no say in their party’s political alignments unless they cooperate with the extreme minority. Devoid of real influence over those who elected him, McCarthy is framed as the main culprit in times of impending crises, further weakening his already fragile authority.
In the meantime, Freedom Caucus members remain unscathed, further empowered by another successful hostage situation gone in their favor.
Historically speaking, GOP factions imposing outrageous pressure onto House speakers is nothing new. In 2015, then House Speaker John Boehner resigned in the midst of growing fractures within his own party. Following secretive negotiations with former President Obama in hopes of reaching a bipartisan debt ceiling agreement, House Republicans were outraged to have been unaware of these talks. In response, three dozen Freedom Caucus members challenged to push for a non-confidence vote, posing a direct threat to his leadership. Among its many aims, the group was ready to weaponize a government shutdown if Boehner signed on to any pro-Obama policies, including Planned Parenthood and increased funding for social programs. Soon after, Boehner, exasperated by the state of his own party, relinquished his gavel. Once again, the Freedom Caucus scored a new victory in placing their interests over those of the 435 other Congressional members, normalizing the idea that holding all of Congress hostage is nothing more than another tactic in politicians’ legislative playbook.
Today, although the government shutdown seems closer than ever, McCarthy announced the opening of an official impeachment inquiry into President Biden under growing pressure from GOP representatives. Despite launching this bogus investigation, Freedom Caucus members, notably Rep. Gaetz, expressed McCarthy is “out of compliance in [his] role as Speaker of the House,” insinuating his removal from office. Moreover, Rep. Bishop and Rep. Perry, angered by the pace of investigations into the Biden Administration, stated that “it’s time for some leadership change.” In this, Freedom Caucus members attach little importance to the concessions made by McCarthy in their favor. Instead, they continue pushing for chaos within Congress, frame McCarthy as the scapegoat for the nation’s woes and dupe Americans into thinking their hardcore stances are easily attainable.
Looking into the future, America’s 247-year success as a country will only continue if both Republicans and Democrats acknowledge the danger rogue political factions pose within Congress. Eric Burlison, Chip Roy, Jim Jordan and other Freedom Caucus members find no harm in jeopardizing millions of Americans’ lives as long as their wishes are met. American hyper-polarization is something of the present; its existence in our collective future should not be warranted. True to the U.S.’s motto, “E Pluribus, Unum,” future generations of Americans must elect politicians ready to put vested interests aside for the good of our great nation.