Editor’s Corner
In a stunning turn of events, the United States witnessed a political earthquake that has sent shockwaves across the nation. The ousting of Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy has left many of us wondering what’s next in the turbulent world of American politics.
I wrote another version of this editorial, exploring the history of the 1884 Antideficiency Act and its effect on government shutdowns. A quick primer: Thanks to a 1980 interpretation of the Act by then-Attorney General Benjamin Civiletti, Applicability of the Antideficiency Act Upon a Lapse in an Agency’s Appropriations.1 But what is the Antideficiency Act? It’s a quirky piece of legislation, and its idea is simple: Don’t spend money you don’t have.2 It sounds like common sense, right? But here’s the twist—in Civiletti’s opinion, it can lead to government shutdowns if Congress doesn’t pass a budget or a spending bill in time. Because of his ruling, ten federal funding gaps have led to actual employee furloughs within federal government departments since the Carter Administration (about four per decade) because politicians could not agree on the budget.3 In an interview with the Washington Post nearly 40 years later, Civiletti said, “I couldn’t have ever imagined these shutdowns would last this long of a time and would be used as a political gambit. My opinion was a purely direct opinion on a fairly narrow subject and has been used in ways that were not imagined at the time.”4
And that brings me to McCarthy’s dilemma: Eight of his Republican colleagues chafed at the bipartisan deal he made with President Joe Biden to avoid a federal default.5 Consequently, they cast their votes in opposition to the bill that Congress approved on September 30, which aims to maintain current funding levels for the federal government until mid-November.6
Those same politicians, led by Matt Gaetz, collaborated with their Democratic counterparts, creating a historical moment when McCarthy became the first speaker in US history to be removed from the position through a vote.7 Though I suppose it wasn’t entirely a shock because his role as Speaker has been fraught with controversy, including his election. It took 15 ballots for McCarthy to be elected, only after making concessions to some members of the right-wing Freedom Caucus, of which Gaetz is a member.8 It was the longest multi-ballot speaker election since 1856.9 Later, it was revealed that McCarthy had been in direct communication with former President Donald Trump during the January 6th attack on the Capitol, pleading with him to call off the mob.10 This was a major point of contention among some House Republicans, particularly the Freedom Caucus.11
The shakeup could also significantly affect the upcoming midterm elections. The GOP’s internal strife might affect their ability to present a cohesive front to voters. Democrats, on the other hand, may see an opportunity to gain more seats in the House if they can capitalize on Republican divisions. It’s too early to say for sure, but it’s clear that the GOP is at a crossroads. The Republican Party now faces the challenge of selecting a new Speaker to bridge the gap between the different factions and lead with unity. But interim Speaker Patrick McHenry immediately ordered Rep. Nancy Pelosi out of her D.C. office—the same one that was ransacked by January 6 rioters—while she was at the funeral of Rep. Dianne Feinstein.12 Both parties have opportunities and challenges to navigate in the coming months. As our nation moves forward, it is imperative that we prioritize unity and effective leadership to address the pressing issues facing our country.