White House Fires Back At MTG’s Opposition To Funding The Government Without A Biden Impeachment Vote

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene announced on Thursday that she will oppose funding the federal government unless Congress passes an impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden, an ultimatum that drew a sharp response from the White House.

Her other conditions, she told constituents, include defunding what she described as Biden’s “weaponization of government,” eliminating all COVID mandates and zero funding for the war in Ukraine.

“I’ve already decided I will not vote to fund the government unless we have passed an impeachment inquiry on Joe Biden,” Greene said to applause during a town hall meeting.

The White House has warned that an impeachment probe would be a “disaster” for Republicans, who have been scrambling to turn up evidence of wrongdoing against Biden to win support among some members of their own caucus. A White House spokesperson quickly responded to Greene’s ultimatums on Thursday.

“The last thing the American people deserve is for extreme House members to trigger a government shutdown that hurts our economy, undermines our disaster preparedness, and forces our troops to work without guaranteed pay,” White House spokesperson Andrew Bates responded.

He said House Republicans responsible for keeping the government open have already pledged to keep the government open after funding expires on September 30.

“And it would be a shame for them to break their word and fail the country because they caved to the hardcore fringe of their party in prioritizing a baseless impeachment stunt over high stakes needs Americans care about deeply – like fighting fentanyl trafficking, protecting our national security, and funding FEMA,” he said.

The White House is working with Congress on a short-term funding measure to keep the government open beyond Oct. 1 while long-term spending discussions continue.

Greene posted a video of her remarks on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. She said she won’t continue to fund Special Counsel Jack Smith, who has brought charges against former President Donald Trump. She said Special Counsel David Weiss is “protecting” Biden’s son Hunter, whose plea deal fell apart on tax and gun charges. 

“And we have to rein in the FBI,” she said. “I will not vote for money to go toward those things.”

She also opposes a continuing resolution that funds mask mandates, vaccine mandates "and COVID,” because she said "that is over," even though cases have been increasing.

“And lastly, my red line in the sand has always been, I will not vote to fund a war in Ukraine. We have to have peace,” she said.