House GOP Tensions Boil Over as Party Infighting Intensifies Before Year-End

Tensions Rise Within House GOP as Legislative Year Nears End

Tensions are escalating among House Republicans as they approach their final legislative week of 2025, with lawmakers directing frustrations at various targets including Speaker Mike Johnson, the White House, the Senate, and even fellow GOP representatives.

More than a dozen House Republicans who spoke with reporters expressed different perspectives on the source of tension. However, several acknowledged concerns about the party’s ability to identify defining legislative priorities for 2026 that could match the success of their signature “one big, beautiful bill” passed last summer.

“Right now, we don’t have a focused agenda that we’re moving towards like we did with the one big, beautiful bill,” one House GOP lawmaker said. “That brought all of our energy together in a focused manner.”

Rep. Rich McCormick (R-Ga.) expressed frustration not with any specific leader but with Congress as an institution, lamenting that Republicans are constantly reacting to emergencies rather than proactively addressing important issues.

“The problem is, because of the nature of the beast, we’re always fighting against the next big emergency,” McCormick said. He cited healthcare as a prime example, noting that despite it being “the number one expense for families for a decade,” Republicans “did nothing” when they first came to power this year.

This reactive approach has left the party scrambling to address looming health insurance premium hikes. While House Republicans unveiled a bill aimed at lowering healthcare costs last Friday, its passage remains uncertain.

Several lawmakers have specifically directed their criticism at Speaker Johnson. Rep. Kevin Kiley (R-Calif.) voiced concerns about Johnson’s handling of redistricting disputes and congressional scheduling. “The fact we just weren’t here for two months,” Kiley noted, “and the way that the House is really not in the driver’s seat on a lot of the key issues around here—I think all of that is pretty frustrating to a swath of the conference.”

Some criticisms are more personal in nature. Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-N.Y.) claimed Johnson is blocking her efforts to build a National Women’s Museum despite having President Donald Trump’s support. “It’s been stalled by the speaker, in committee, despite having 165 sponsors from both parties,” she said.

Rep. Greg Steube (R-Fla.) expressed anger over Johnson’s handling of the National Defense Authorization Act, saying the speaker puts members in the difficult position of either accepting legislation they don’t fully support or voting against military pay increases.

Other prominent critics include Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), who has become one of Johnson’s loudest detractors, and Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.), who wrote a scathing New York Times op-ed stating, “Nancy Pelosi was a more effective House speaker than any Republican this century.” Mace told reporters she had spoken with Johnson but did not feel heard.

However, several Republicans defended Johnson, suggesting that his critics are more interested in personal publicity than constructive governance. “Some people have been frustrated, but we have some people who are in Congress now that care more about their own personal headlines when they’re running for other offices,” one House Republican said.

Rep. Mary Miller (R-Ill.) publicly supported Johnson, stating, “Speaker Mike Johnson has led our House majority with God-given courage, clarity and remarkable patience.”

Beyond internal leadership disputes, some lawmakers directed their frustrations elsewhere. Rep. Mark Amodei (R-Nev.), a member of the House Appropriations Committee, blamed the Senate for the legislative gridlock. “We move very fast in the House, and we’ve been ready to keep moving. We just can’t move without the Senate,” he said.

Others pointed to tensions with the Trump White House, with one Republican noting there was “definitely” angst over how the administration has treated Congress as a co-equal branch of government. “I believe we’re aligned as far as intentions, but sometimes we’ve got to do our job, and we want participation, but we don’t want to be told what to do,” another lawmaker said.

Despite the challenges, House Republicans have managed to advance significant portions of Trump’s agenda this year, voting to codify roughly 100 of his executive orders—more than 60% of the total executive orders former President Joe Biden introduced during his entire term.

As the legislative year draws to a close, the question remains whether House Republicans can overcome their internal divisions to present a unified front and advance meaningful legislation in 2026.