Johnson says he won't back change to rule that allows single member to call for speaker's ouster

Washington — House Speaker Mike Johnson said Thursday he wouldn't back a change to the rule that allows a single member to force a vote on whether to oust the speaker, even though he said the threshold "has harmed this office" and the Republican majority. 

"Recently, many members have encouraged me to endorse a new rule to raise this threshold," the Louisiana Republican said in a statement. "While I understand the importance of that idea, any rule change requires a majority of the full House, which we do not have. We will continue to govern under the existing rules." 

Currently, a single member can force a floor vote on the motion to vacate, which was part of a deal former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy of California made with hardliners in January 2023 in order to win the gavel. Republicans floated changing the rules after the deal ultimately led to McCarthy's downfall in October, though nothing came of the effort because as he said in his statement, he does not have the majority necessary to approve the rule change.