House GOP eyes reconciliation process to pass Middle East war aid

DORAL, Florida — House GOP leaders discussed trying to attach military aid to a party-line policy package during a closed-door meeting Tuesday afternoon, according to three people granted anonymity to share details of private conversations.

Speaker Mike Johnson and his team are weighing a variety of options, including the filibuster-skirting budget reconciliation process, to pass some or all of the tens of billions of dollars in funding they expect the Pentagon to request in the coming days to assist in the U.S. conflict with Iran.

The leadership meeting, which took place on the sidelines of the House GOP policy retreat in Florida this week, comes as Republicans are still weighing whether they can even muster the votes for another megabill given their razor-thin margins and the tight window in which to legislate during an election year.

Johnson reiterated Wednesday morning he is still pursuing a second reconciliation measure, but he didn't provide any timeline and restated he's still working to refine a list items all Republicans can agree on in order for a bill to have a shot at passing.