The Repeated Failures by House Republicans to Elect a New Speaker Raises Risk of Government Shutdown

House Republicans’ failure to elect a new speaker is increasing the likelihood of a federal government shutdown next month. Since ousting former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, the Republican Party has struggled to coalesce around a replacement, resulting in the House being mostly closed for business. Without a speaker, lawmakers cannot bring bills to the floor and this dysfunction threatens to delay vital legislation. With the approaching expiration of federal funding on November 17, there is a risk that the government will shut down, causing major disruptions. The longer the Republicans take to elect a new speaker, the less time they will have to avoid being blamed for the shutdown. Critics argue that the GOP’s internal disarray sends a poor message to allies and enemies around the world and impedes progress on important issues such as ongoing wars and the funding of government agencies. Meanwhile, the Democratic-controlled Senate has continued to make progress on legislation, exacerbating the divide between the two parties.