GOP faces delay in unlocking full powers of House if McCarthy cannot clinch speakership

Republicans face delays in exercising their control of the U.S. House of Representatives if wayward GOP lawmakers cannot agree on who will be speaker next Congress.

That means committees cannot begin issuing subpoenas or conducting oversight of the Biden administration — something GOP leaders pledged on the campaign trail would begin on day one of a Republican majority.  Haris Alic is a politics reporter for Fox News Digital covering Congress. 

"This is a sh-- show," said a centrist House Republican. "Without a speaker, you can't organize the House, which means committees can't send subpoenas or pay staff. We're supposed to govern, but you can't govern without a speaker in place."