US funding for Ukraine faces a new hurdle in Congress after Kevin McCarthy‘s ouster as House speaker gave Republican hardliners an opening to stall the next round of aid to Kyiv. The fate of US aid for Ukraine’s efforts to fend off Russia’s invasion now rests in large part on the next speaker, who will have to navigate a party sharply divided on the issue. Republicans plan a speaker election on Oct. 11, and all legislative action is likely to halt in the meantime. Aid to Ukraine in its fight against Russia’s invasion still enjoys widespread support in Congress. Some of those mentioned as possible speakers, including House majority leader Steve Scalise, voted for a $300 million Ukraine funding bill last week. Yet other contenders, like Jim Jordan, voted no. The leader of the GOP hardliners, Matt Gaetz, emphasised that a majority of Republicans voted against the aid bill last week.