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

( Fox )

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 called into question whether Speaker Pro Tempore Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., could or should receive an intelligence briefing about the situation.

A source told Fox News that the Biden administration could take the line that there is no speaker for the House of Representatives. Thus, McHenry would not qualify for an intelligence briefing.

However, Fox was also told that President Biden's team sees McHenry as credible and a responsible individual, so even though he is not speaker, the administration may be willing to brief him.

So far, there has been no call for an intelligence briefing on the Middle East for the Congressional "Gang of 8." That group consists of the House speaker, the House minority leader, the Senate majority leader, the Senate minority leader, and the chairs and top minority members of the House and Senate Intelligence committees.

That said, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., is overseas on a foreign trip to China.

Fox is told that a "Gang of 7" could convene and leave the top figure in the House out, because there is technically no top figure in the House with the speakership in limbo.

Fox has also heard from multiple lawmakers and congressional sources warning of potential problems for the U.S. should there be a need to respond to the Middle East situation or another foreign policy crisis.

The House, currently led by McHenry in its absence of a speaker, could not advance any legislative measure related to the crisis should that be necessary.