The House of Representatives has unanimously repealed a contentious provision in the government shutdown bill that would have enabled Republican senators to sue the federal government over the seizure of their phone records by former special counsel Jack Smith. The measure, which was added to the bill at the last minute by Senate leadership, sparked significant controversy and was rejected 426 to 0. The decision reflects the ongoing tensions between the House and Senate, as well as the broader political climate surrounding the Arctic Frost investigation and its impact on congressional oversight.
Represents from both parties expressed frustration with the last-minute inclusion of the measure, which was intended to give senators recourse for alleged overreach by the executive branch. However, the decision to repeal the provision was met with bipartisan agreement, with House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole expressing concerns about the potential to derail the shutdown resolution. The measure was placed into the bill by Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, following the request of several Senate Republicans, including Sens. Lindsey Graham and Ted Cruz.
Despite the strong opposition to the measure, some Senate Republicans defended its inclusion, arguing that it was necessary to hold the executive branch accountable for its actions. Sen. Lindsey Graham, a key supporter of the provision, stated that he would pursue legal action against the federal government over the seizure of his phone records. Meanwhile, House Speaker Mike Johnson, who was caught off guard by the inclusion of the measure, expressed frustration with its timing and urged Senate leaders to remove it from the bill.
The repeal of the provision has been widely seen as a political victory for the House, which was able to prevent what could have been a significant legal and financial burden on taxpayers. However, the issue has also highlighted the deepening divisions between the two chambers of Congress, with the Senate continuing to push for its own version of the provision. As the shutdown continues to dominate the political landscape, the battle over legislative authority and oversight remains a key point of contention in the coming weeks.