Absence of House speaker could have serious impact on US handling of terror attacks in Israel

The absence of a House speaker amid the crisis in the Middle East, as Israel works to defend itself from an unprecedented attack by Iranian-backed Hamas terrorists, has raised significant concerns among national security circles.

The rapidly evolving situation in the Middle East violence highlights the importance of having an operational House of Representatives speaker – and the underscores the challenges of what the interim speaker can do. Specifically, whether Speaker Pro Tempore Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., can or should receive an intelligence briefing about the situation.

"The Middle East might speed up the election of a Speaker," said one House Republican who asked to remain anonymous. "This points to why it was a bad idea to kick out [former House Speaker] Kevin McCarthy."

The crisis in the Middle East involving a U.S. ally could recalibrate the thinking of House Republicans as the vacant speakership starts to approach a week.