House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) speaks with reporters as the House votes to end the partial government shutdown at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC, on February 3, 2026.
Kylie Cooper | Reuters
House Republican leaders are at risk of an embarrassing defeat in Tuesday’s procedural vote, as Republican lawmakers balk at a vote to block challenges to President Donald Trump’s tariffs by the summer.
A potential Republican insurrection over the vote highlights divisions within House Republicans, a dynamic that could make it more difficult for Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) to advance his and Mr. Trump’s policies in the narrow chamber. Dissatisfied factions within House Republicans have staged several insurrections this Congress, forcing the release of files on sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and supporting failed Democratic efforts to extend Obamacare subsidies.
Prime Minister Johnson cannot afford to lose several Republicans, assuming all members are present and Democrats are united behind the pending bill, which sets rules for debating bills to boost domestic production of critical minerals. At least two Republicans have said they plan to vote against Johnson.
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), always a thorn in the side of Republican leadership, vowed to vote “no.” As dissatisfaction with President Trump’s tariffs and leadership maneuvers pervades the Republican Party, other members of Congress have expressed similar opposition.
Rep. Kevin Kiley (R-Calif.) told CNBC on Tuesday that he opposes “this idea that we all need to come together to consider certain bills” because it would make the House “not a democratic institution.”
The vote was originally scheduled for early afternoon, but House Republicans moved the date to Tuesday night.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Tuesday he expected the bill to pass, saying the rationale for this week’s vote was “to enable the Supreme Court to rule on pending cases”. The Supreme Court is considering a legal challenge to President Trump’s tariffs, with a decision pending after oral arguments last November.
“That process is underway, and I think it’s logical to allow it to continue. The president’s trade policy has been of great benefit to the country,” Johnson said at a news conference Tuesday morning.
The House Rules Committee on Monday approved language blocking a House vote against President Trump’s tariffs until July 31. House Democrats were already planning to force a vote on tariffs this week.
“It’s no secret that many Republican members of Congress privately have concerns about President Trump’s tariff policies, and now some are expressing their concerns publicly,” Rep. Jim McGovern (Mass.), the top Democrat on the House Rules Committee, said during Monday’s hearing.
“They were about to have a chance this week to vote to end the tariffs, so what the hell? The White House is scared. They know that after months of blocking what the Senate has already done, the Republican House is finally ready to vote to end these unpopular, unwise, stupid tariffs,” McGovern continued.
The Senate has repeatedly voted in favor of repealing President Trump’s tariffs, but the House has blocked votes on tariff-related resolutions. The latest ban on tariff voting expired at the end of January.
During Tuesday’s vote, some other Republicans also expressed displeasure with the tariffs, but did not commit to opposing the bill in advance of a vote.
“The Supreme Court is expected to rule on this issue by June, so there is an argument for maintaining the status quo until then,” Rep. Tom McClintock (R-Calif.) told CNBC on Tuesday. “I believe in free trade, and tariffs are a big mistake. But given that the Supreme Court is starting to consider it, perhaps we should say nothing and wait to see what they say.”
—CNBC’s Karen Sloan contributed to this report.
