By Oliver Coan (286)

The Speaker of the House is one of the most important roles in the American government today. The House of Representatives helps maintain order in the country by legislating laws and regulations, and the Speaker is the head of the decision-making process. As one of the most powerful nations in the world, it is expected that the House be a place full of orderly individuals. However, the Speaker has been abruptly ousted from office. Now, U.S. citizens are waiting to see if the 435 people who decide what goes on in the lives of around 340,000,000 people can even decide who will keep order in the chamber.

What even is the Speaker of the House?

The Speaker is the leader of the largest party in the House and is elected every two years. Being second in succession to the President, the job is highly respected. They use their influence for persuasion, decide the agenda, when people can speak, among other responsibilities. Essentially, they play a crucial role in keeping the gears running in the machine that is the U.S. government. 

What happens if a new Speaker is not elected? 

If a new Speaker is not found by November 17, the government would have shut down. A government shutdown is when the House cannot set the budgets for government agencies, causing government agencies to come to a halt. Airport delays could increase due to worker shortages, immigration courts close, FDA inspections may stop, infrastructure could stop, and even early childhood education could be disrupted, causing 10,000 low-income kids to miss out on a head start in education. Agencies that release statistics and help small businesses may have to stop. Each week of a shutdown could cost the government six billion dollars. Additionally, government funding and federal aid would be placed on the backburner, such as the FAFSA, which has already delayed the due date for the upcoming year of applicants. Overall, the absence of a Speaker in the House of Representatives would be a hectic and scary situation for America’s economy.

New Speaker?

Mike Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, has been elected as a Speaker. He was elected after three different nominees failed. He is well-known for being a 2020 election denier and has proposed a new short-term funding bill through January 15 or April 15. He is also a known opponent of abortion and LGBTQ rights. 

What does this mean for Central?

Although this wouldn’t directly affect Central as a school, it would affect nearly every Central student and staff in their own ways via food insecurity, college payments, social security, medicare, traveling, and the list continues. The government continues to be more isolating and less harmonious, resulting in tremulous political relationships. It will be interesting to see how the new arrangement of personnels impacts the House, and more importantly, the American citizens.