WASHINGTON, April 1, 2025 — The House Freedom Caucus has lost yet another member amid deepening internal rifts, as Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) announced her resignation from the right-wing faction over its opposition to her push for proxy voting rights for new parents in Congress.
Luna’s departure marks the fourth high-profile exit from the influential conservative group in the past two years, highlighting growing tensions over leadership, loyalty, and procedural disagreements.
“With a Heavy Heart”
In a letter to colleagues obtained by Axios, Luna wrote that her decision to leave the caucus came after a small group of members threatened House Speaker Mike Johnson and moved to block her discharge petition — a procedural maneuver aimed at forcing a House vote on her proposed rule change.
“With a heavy heart, I am resigning from the Freedom Caucus,” Luna wrote. “The mutual respect that has guided our caucus was shattered.”
She accused members of threatening to halt floor proceedings indefinitely unless Johnson intervened to kill her proposal, which would allow House members who are new parents to vote by proxy — a practice strongly opposed by the Freedom Caucus during the COVID-19 era.
Rising Tensions Within the Freedom Caucus
Luna’s exit adds to a growing list of Freedom Caucus members who have either resigned or been expelled:
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Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) was ousted in 2023 for backing then-House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
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Rep. Warren Davidson (R-Ohio) was voted out in 2024 after endorsing a primary opponent to the caucus’s own chair, Bob Good (R-Va.).
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Rep. Troy Nehls (R-Texas) resigned in protest following Davidson’s removal.
The internal fractures suggest a shift in the Freedom Caucus’s identity, from a coalition of hardline conservatives into an increasingly divided faction, struggling over ideological purity and procedural tactics.
A Clash with Leadership
Luna has faced opposition not only from within the caucus but also from GOP leadership. Her discharge petition, launched earlier this month, needs 218 signatures to force a floor vote on the proxy voting rule.
However, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), a longtime critic of proxy voting, is reportedly maneuvering to include a provision in a broader Republican rule package that would effectively kill her petition.
Luna’s departure could widen the gap between the Freedom Caucus and a segment of Republican lawmakers seeking more modernized, family-friendly reforms within Congress.
Looking Ahead
While Luna’s decision has been confirmed by at least two GOP lawmakers, her office has not yet issued an official public statement. The move underscores a broader identity crisis for the Freedom Caucus as it continues to navigate power struggles, ideological divisions, and internal loyalty tests.
With the Republican majority in the House already narrow, ongoing infighting could complicate legislative efforts heading into the 2026 midterm cycle.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving WORLD of technology.