In a bold move that signifies his entry into his new role, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., is making waves by using aid to Israel as a means to clash with President Joe Biden over a key legislation, as reported by NBC News.

The bill unveiled by House Republicans on Monday includes a whopping $14.3 billion emergency funding for Israel. However, it comes at the price of rescinding the same amount of IRS funding from the Inflation Reduction Act, a significant law on climate, healthcare, and taxation signed by President Biden last year.

The newly proposed GOP bill is set for consideration by the Rules Committee upon the return of the House on Wednesday, with a vote expected to take place as early as this week.

If the bill successfully passes the GOP-controlled House, the Democratic-led Senate and the White House are highly likely to reject the IRS provisions, setting the stage for a clash regarding the approval of aid to Israel. This situation presents an early test for Speaker Johnson, as he must navigate the demands of Republican hard-liners while acknowledging the dynamics of divided government.

Defending his decision to cut IRS funding in the bill for providing new aid to Israel, Johnson stated that protecting Israel and its innocent citizens aligns with America's national interest and poses a more immediate need than funding IRS agents.

In response, the White House accused Republicans of attempting to facilitate tax evasion by the wealthy and big corporations, which would ultimately exacerbate the deficit. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stated that politicizing national security interests is a nonstarter. She further emphasized that demanding offsets for critical national security needs, such as supporting Israel and defending against Russian aggression in Ukraine, would undermine bipartisan processes and have detrimental implications for national safety and alliances in the future.

The move by Speaker Johnson has raised concerns and criticism within the Democratic party. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., expressed deep disturbance over Johnson's actions, calling them offensive to all pro-Israel Americans and urging him to reverse course immediately.

The Inflation Reduction Act, approved by President Biden and Democrats along party lines in 2022, aimed to increase investments in clean energy and healthcare while funding these initiatives through higher taxes on corporations. The funds allocated to the IRS amount to approximately $80 billion and are intended to enhance customer service and combat tax evasion by the wealthy. The Congressional Budget Office has projected that these funds will generate approximately $200 billion in increased revenues over the next decade.

Sen. Ron Wyden, R-Ore., Chair of the Senate Finance Committee, described Johnson's plan as "horrifying" and firmly declared it a non-starter in the Senate. Wyden pledged to utilize all available tools as chairman of the Finance Committee to fight against the proposed bill.

Critics of Johnson's proposal argue that it exploits the Israel aid issue to pass tax cuts for the wealthy. Aaron Fritschner, deputy chief of staff for Rep. Don Beyer, D-Va., referred to the move as a mere budgetary gimmick.

Beyond the clash with Democrats, Speaker Johnson also faces pressure from Republicans who assert that domestic spending must be reduced if aid is given to Israel. Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, voiced his stance on the issue, stating that the aid should be paid for with real money rather than through budgetary provisions. He warned that excessive spending could jeopardize the country's ability to defend itself and its allies.

As the House prepares to deliberate on the proposed bill and tensions rise between Republicans and Democrats, the outcome of this clash over providing aid to Israel remains uncertain. The situation highlights the challenges that Speaker Mike Johnson must navigate in balancing party demands, national interests, and the realities of divided government.