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WASHINGTON — Following President Donald Trump’s rescission of Representative Elise Stefanik’s nomination to serve as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, she reportedly received private assurances of reinstatement to House GOP leadership and the coveted House Intelligence Committee. These assurances were provided by Republican sources familiar with internal discussions.
Speaker Johnson Navigates Stefanik’s Committee Reinstatement
However, two weeks later, Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., is still working to finalize the promised reappointment to the influential committee. This challenge persists even after the anticipated move was publicly disclosed on Wednesday.
Committee Constraints Present Obstacles
The challenge for Speaker Johnson stems from the need to either remove a current Republican member from the high-profile Intelligence Committee, a move that risks internal party friction, or modify existing House rules to accommodate an additional member. House regulations stipulate a maximum of 25 members on the committee, with a party limit of 14, which is the current Republican representation.
Expanding the committee’s size could generate complaints from members who believe it is already too large. Furthermore, it might necessitate Speaker Johnson to permit House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., to appoint another Democrat to the panel.
Speaker Johnson’s office communicated to NBC News that both he and House Intelligence Committee Chairman Rick Crawford, R-Ark., are dedicated to finding a resolution to integrate Stefanik onto the committee in the coming weeks.
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“The Speaker will collaborate with Chairman Crawford and HPSCI members to ensure Rep. Stefanik’s return to the Intelligence Committee in the near future,” stated a spokesperson for Speaker Johnson. “They are both eager to benefit from her expertise on the committee once again.”
Representative Stefanik’s office has not yet responded to requests for comment.
Tensions Rise Amidst Committee Shuffle
This delicate situation has generated unease between Speaker Johnson and Representative Stefanik, within the powerful committee, and across the broader Republican conference. Adding to the complexity, senior House Republicans suggest Stefanik pressed Speaker Johnson to publicly announce her leadership assignment before a critical House budget vote, for which her support was deemed essential.
Speaker Johnson has not yet indicated his plans to current Intelligence Committee members, leading to concerns about potential member replacements.
During private discussions regarding Stefanik’s new role, a source familiar with the conversations indicated Speaker Johnson mentioned several Republicans who could be asked to relinquish their committee positions. These included Representative Pat Fallon of Texas, the most recently appointed Republican member; Representative Claudia Tenney, who, like Stefanik, represents New York; and Representative French Hill of Arkansas, who leads the influential Financial Services Committee. Speaker Johnson appointed Representatives Fallon and Tenney to the committee on January 16.
Despite these initial considerations, no formal decisions have been made, and no members have been formally asked about stepping down, according to multiple Republican sources.
“I believe it’s an evolving process,” stated a House Republican familiar with committee discussions. “They are exploring whether to replace a member to create an opening for her or to increase the committee size by two — adding both a Democrat and a Republican.”
This lawmaker expressed opposition to expanding the committee, noting it had already “expanded twice in the past two years.”
Speaker Johnson must proceed carefully, as his previous Intelligence Committee selections, which oversees the National Intelligence Director’s Office and the CIA, have caused controversy among some conference members.
In the prior Congress, Speaker Johnson faced criticism from moderates for selecting controversial figures like Representatives Scott Perry, R-Pa., and Ronny Jackson, R-Texas, over more moderate members, including Representatives Stephanie Bice, R-Okla.; Zach Nunn, R-Iowa; and Laurel Lee, R-Fla. Additionally, this year, Speaker Johnson removed former committee chairman Mike Turner, R-Ohio, who was not favored by allies of former President Trump.
Stefanik’s Position Intersects with Key Budget Vote Timing
The deliberation over accommodating Stefanik exemplifies the disruption caused by the withdrawal of her nomination. She appears to be leveraging this situation to her advantage, emphasizing her close ties to Trump and the significance of her vote in the closely divided House of Representatives.
On Wednesday, House leaders prepared for a procedural vote to advance a budget resolution aligning with Trump’s legislative priorities. At that time, Speaker Johnson had not yet announced Stefanik’s new role, despite ongoing private negotiations.
Sources familiar with the situation indicate Stefanik, who had not voted in the House since March 27, when Trump withdrew her nomination, alerted the White House as officials were actively securing budget votes. Amid this pressure from Stefanik, Speaker Johnson approved the public statement regarding her new assignment, according to sources.
Subsequently, Stefanik appeared at the Capitol for the crucial procedural vote. She strategically withheld her vote until the last moment, proving decisive in securing the measure’s passage. Whether intentional or not, this maneuver served as a clear indication to colleagues of her crucial vote, which factored into Trump’s desire for her to remain in Congress.
Shortly after the vote, Stefanik — who relinquished her position as House GOP conference chair upon her nomination for the ambassadorship — publicly announced her new position as chair of House Republican leadership. This role includes additional staff and resources. Stefanik also announced her return to the Intelligence, Education and Workforce, and Armed Services committees. Speaker Johnson and Stefanik jointly released an official statement concerning the news two and a half hours later.
Some senior Republicans, including members of Speaker Johnson’s leadership team, expressed surprise at the announcement. However, Stefanik’s allies contend that Trump explicitly wanted her to receive a prominent position quickly and maintain she has consistently acted as a team player throughout this process.
The extent of Stefanik’s leadership role on the Intelligence Committee remains unclear. In the previous Congress, she was a senior member. Had she not been nominated for the U.N. post, she might have been considered to chair the committee following Turner’s removal. Speaker Johnson appointed Crawford as chairman and Representative Trent Kelly, R-Miss., as vice chair.
However, Stefanik’s seniority on the committee would surpass Kelly’s, “potentially making her technically the vice chair,” according to the House lawmaker familiar with the committee discussions. Furthermore, subcommittee chairmanships have already been assigned for the 119th Congress.