FBI Whistleblower Amplifies Criticism Of Trillion-Dollar Spending Package

Demands for a stop-gap spending bill to avert an impending government shutdown have become commonplace on Capitol Hill in recent years, and the result typically involves acquiescent Republican lawmakers agreeing to support a bloated bill opposed by fiscal conservatives in the party.

Although some in the GOP oppose a shutdown over fear of backlash from voters, historical evidence seems to show that the party might not pay a price for standing firm on demands for budgetary restraint. Nevertheless, a number of Republican lawmakers in both chambers joined Democrats last week to pass a $1.2 trillion package that only funds the government through September. 

Many other Republicans spoke out against the bill, which they described as both too expensive and too light on conservative priorities. 

For her part, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) issued a motion to oust House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-KY) shortly after the budget deal passed in the chamber. 

When asked for his reaction to Johnson’s decision to bring the measure to a vote and Greene’s subsequent motion, House Freedom Caucus Chair Bob Good (R-VA) said he “can’t defend the speaker.”

Steve Friend, an FBI whistleblower who highlighted corruption within the bureau’s probe into participants in the Jan. 6, 2021, protest, also weighed in on Republicans who backed the bill. He reacted to a social media message from Rep. Max Miller, who declared that the funding package “wasn’t perfect” but was “better than the alternative.”

I voted to pass today’s funding package.

It wasn’t perfect, but it was better than the alternative: 6 more months of Biden-Pelosi-Schumer spending. pic.twitter.com/X6od5DOfkz

— Congressman Max Miller (@RepMaxMiller) March 22, 2024

“The ‘alternative’ was stopping the border invasion and defunding the weaponized [FBI],” Friend argued. “That’s why the GOP was given a House majority. But too many GOP congressman [sic] believe federal abuse of Americans is PREFERABLE to a temporary, partial government shutdown. Transparent cowardice.”

As for Greene’s fledgling effort to vacate the speaker’s chair, she described it as a “warning and a pink slip,” and Johnson spokesperson Raj Shah shifted the topic elsewhere when asked about the development.

“Speaker Johnson always listens to the concerns of members, but is focused on governing,” Shah said. “He will continue to push conservative legislation that secures our border, strengthens our national defense and demonstrates how we’ll grow our majority.”