A report that the House Freedom Caucus has activated its Floor Action Response Team (FART) has sparked a wave of mockery on social media as a result of the body's acronym.
On Thursday, Politico's congressional reporter Olivia Beavers reported that the sub-group had been activated to prevent allies of Speaker Mike Johnson from moving to reduce the Freedom Caucus' power. This comes ahead of a series of key votes on foreign aid which have sparked some Republican calls for Johnson to be removed from office.
On Saturday, the House is expected to vote on three separate bills providing $95 billion in security assistance to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. Around $61 billion of the aid would be used to support Kyiv, though over $9 billion of it will take the form of "forgivable loans." The Ukraine aid in particular sparked an angry response from some on the House Republican right, with Kentucky Representative Thomas Massie calling on Johnson to resign, which the speaker has said he will not do.
According to Politico, the conservative House Freedom Caucus activated its Floor Action Response Team, "shorthanded as 'FART,'" with members agreeing to monitor the chamber floor in shifts to block any sudden rule changes by the GOP leadership. The outlet reported that the caucus was concerned efforts could be made to remove its members from the powerful House Rules Committee or the threshold raised for a vote on removing the speaker via a motion to vacate.
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On Thursday, Johnson said he would not attempt to increase the number of representatives needed to launch a motion to vacate from its current level of one, as was agreed by Kevin McCarthy earlier this year.
Denver Riggleman, an author and former House Republican, shared an X post by Beaver saying the Freedom Caucus's 'FART' team had been activated. Jokingly, he added: "Actually, that's not complete reporting, Olivia. I have a source that tells me it's the Wrong Every Time Floor Action Response Team – WETFART. The #WETFART team is a loud and slippery crew. Beware."
— Denver Riggleman (@RepRiggleman) April 18, 2024Actually, that’s not complete reporting, Olivia. I have a source that tells me it’s the Wrong Every Time Floor Action Response Team - WETFART
The #WETFART team is a loud and slippery crew. Beware. https://t.co/3VNdc4V4gl
Fred Guttenberg, a gun control campaigner whose daughter was killed in the 2018 Parkland High School shooting, wrote: "House Freedom Caucus Republicans created a group called the Floor Action Response Team to I guess hold on to power. Yup, they created the FART Team. I guess they think they haven't stunk up the place enough yet, and so they will unleash FART on Congress."
Author and MSNBC contributor Charlie Sykes shared Beavers' X post, adding: "Beyond parody."
The New York-based 'BrooklynDad_Defiant!' X account, which has over 1.3 million followers, joked: "House Republicans have just formed a Floor Action Response Team ('FART') in order to fend off silent but deadly attempts to curb their influence. Total clown show, folks."
— BrooklynDad_Defiant!☮️ (@mmpadellan) April 18, 2024House Republicans have just formed a Floor Action Response Team ('FART') in order to fend off silent but deadly attempts to curb their influence.
Total clown show, folks.
A similar jest was made by The History of China Podcast account, which has over 13,600 X followers. It posted: "The Floor Action Response Team is discussing adopting an official motto: 'Silent, But Deadly.'
"It's also notable that there is an elite version of the team: the Special House Action Response Team. You should never confuse F.A.R.T. for S.H.A.R.T. They're completely different."
Newsweek contacted the House Freedom Caucus communications director for comment at 5:15 a.m. ET on Friday. This article will be updated if they decide to comment.
Johnson had previously refused to bring a $95 billion package of aid for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan approved by the Senate in February to the House floor.
Speaking to CNN's Jake Tapper on Wednesday, Johnson defended his decision to introduce a similar package this month. He said: "We know the urgency in Ukraine and in Israel, and we are going to stand by Israel, our close ally and dear friend, and we're going to stand for freedom and make sure that [Russian President] Vladimir Putin doesn't March through Europe."
President Biden has pledged to sign the House foreign aid bill into law if it is approved by both chambers of Congress.
Johnson's move on aid sparked an angry response from Donald Trump Jr. who shared a montage of past clips of the speaker saying defending the southern border should be the priority.
The former president's son wrote: "Enough already! If you ever even begin to start believing anything anyone in Republican leadership tells you just watch this. Pay close attention to those that don't seem bothered by this. They're not our friends."
A bipartisan Senate deal combining foreign aid with tighter border restrictions failed to achieve widespread House Republican support in February. Donald Trump called it "a death wish for the Republican Party" whilst Johnson said it would be "dead on arrival" in the House.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
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