In a heated call, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene criticized Republicans for their shutdown strategy
WASHINGTON — Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., criticized the shutdown strategy of her Republican colleagues and White House staff during a heated conference call Tuesday.
Her main complaint, which she has also aired publicly, is that Republicans are not doing anything to address the looming health care abyss. Some funding for insurance coverage under the Affordable Care Act expires at the end of this year, and many Americans may see their monthly premium costs double or even triple.
The issue has become even more important because open enrollment begins Saturday, Nov. 1, and there are concerns that people could drop their coverage for 2026 if they see prices rise.
On Tuesday, Greene accused her party of letting the country down, according to a Republican source who was on the conference call. Greene later confirmed the comments herself on X, adding more details, in the latest sign of a rift between her and her party.
Greene has long been one of President Donald Trump’s most vocal supporters, but in recent weeks, she has broken with her party on a number of high-profile issues, including the administration’s strikes on Iran. Conflict in Gaza And its handling of files related to the Jeffrey Epstein case.
Shortly after Tuesday’s call ended, the Republican representative from Georgia began posting on X confirming reports that she had expanded her party’s leadership and expressed her frustration with the White House political team.
“I said I did not respect the House not being in session to pass bills and the President’s executive orders,” she wrote. “I asked to know from Speaker Johnson what the Republicans’ health care plan was.”
Green also said Republicans’ shutdown strategy has angered the American people and hurt Trump’s popularity, according to the source on the call.
This person said she called for the Senate to get rid of the filibuster and for the House to return to session, although at the same time she said Republicans needed to get out of Washington to listen to the anger of real Americans. The House has not met since September 19, with Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Los Angeles, keeping members out of town to pressure Senate Democrats to end the shutdown.
Johnson, who was leading the call, backed away from Green. He said Republicans are working day and night on a health care solution and that talks about expiring Affordable Care Act subsidies are continuing, according to the source on the call.
Green confirmed this to X, but said she was not satisfied with his answer.
“Johnson said he has ideas and pages of policy ideas and judiciary committees working on them, but he refused to provide a single policy proposal for the GOP convention on our conference call. Obviously I have to go to SCIF to find out about the GOP health care plan!!!” She wrote in reference to secure areas for reviewing classified materials.
We want to hear from you how you’re coping with the government shutdown, whether you’re a federal employee who can’t work right now, someone who relies on federal benefits like SNAP, or someone feeling the effects of other closed services in your daily life. Please contact us at tips@nbcuni.com Or contact us here.
Johnson also backed away from Greene’s call for the Senate to eliminate the legislative filibuster, according to a second source on the call. Most legislation requires 60 votes to pass the Senate, but Green and others have proposed eliminating that rule to allow Republicans to reopen the government themselves. Supporters of keeping the filibuster in place fear that nuking it would hurt Republicans the next time Democrats control the Senate.
Johnson’s office declined to comment.