Speaker Johnson sets out separate bills for foreign aid votes, with $60bn for Ukraine and $26bn for Israel

Speaker Mike Johnson has released a much-anticipated series of foreign aid bills, teeing up the House of Representatives for a vote within days.

His supplemental security funding outline proposes $26.38bn in aid to Israel and $60.84bn in aid to Ukraine. Taiwan could also receive $8.12bn. Aid for each of the three countries will be voted on as a separate bill. The $94bn package has been Senate-approved since February. Voting is expected on Saturday.

The push for aid comes in the wake of an Iranian attack on Israel over the weekend, which the US and eight other countries helped stop. Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials have been awaiting this bill as they face ammunition shortages and intense Russian attacks.

This release comes as Mr Johnson faces calls for his removal from far-right members of the House. Kentucky Representative Thomas Massie urged Mr Johnson to step down during a meeting of the House GOP Conference on Tuesday.

The call came after Mr Johnson said he was putting forth legislation to fund Israeli and Ukrainian defence needs.

“I am not concerned about this, I am going to do my job, and I think that’s what the American people expect of us,” the speaker said on Tuesday.

Last month, Georgia Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene also filed a motion to remove him as Speaker after he allowed the House to vote on funding the federal government for the rest of the current fiscal year. Mr Massie has since said he would support her measure.

Meanwhile, House Democrats have long urged Mr Johnson to allow a vote on the foreign aid bills. With several members of the GOP voicing their opposition to the bills, Mr Johnson will need Democratic backing to push them through.

More to come...