House adopts MTG amendment to slash Lloyd Austin salary in ‘dead on arrival’ defense bill

The House adopted an amendment proposed by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) to slash Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s annual salary to just $1 despite the Georgia Republican indicating she’ll vote against the defense spending legislation as a whole when it comes up for a vote later this week.

Lawmakers voted to include the amendment, which would utilize the Holman Rule that allows lawmakers to reduce the salary of specific federal employees, effectively firing them from that position. The amendment was adopted as part of the annual defense appropriations bill, which is scheduled for a full vote on its final passage on Thursday afternoon.

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“It’s different than impeachment. You’re taking their salary completely away and essentially firing them,” Greene told the Washington Examiner. “[Austin’s] a complete failure, an absolute failure, and passing this Holman Rule today, the amendment will allow us to fire him.”

Despite Greene praising the inclusion of her amendment, the firebrand conservative noted she would be voting against the annual defense spending bill when it comes up for a vote because of its inclusion of additional aid to Ukraine, something she has vocally opposed for months. Greene said she would also vote against the state and foreign operations appropriations bill because of its provisions providing support to Ukraine.

Brynn Anderson/AP

Greene’s opposition could spell trouble for House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) by putting two of the GOP-led spending bills in peril just days ahead of a government shutdown, with the Georgia Republican claiming at least two of the four appropriations bills are “dead on arrival” on the floor.

“Both of those bills are going to fail on the floor, and the money will have to be taken out,” she said.

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Greene said she has no specific headcount of how many members will vote against the bill but told the Washington Examiner it would be enough to sink the legislation without any Democratic support.

The comments come just days before federal funding is set to lapse with no spending plan finalized in either the House or the Senate, making it increasingly likely the government will shut down just after midnight on Sunday.