After President Trump withdrew Rep. Elise Stefanik’s nomination as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, she received assurances that she would rejoin the House GOP leadership team and the House Intelligence Committee. However, Speaker Mike Johnson is struggling to figure out how to fulfill the promise of adding her back to the committee due to House rules limiting the number of members. Johnson is considering removing a current member or changing the rules to accommodate Stefanik. The situation has caused tension between Johnson and Stefanik and within the GOP conference. Stefanik reportedly strong-armed Johnson into announcing her new leadership role ahead of a key budget vote, where her support was crucial. Despite initial suggestions to remove some members, no decisions have been made, and no members have been approached. The Intelligence Committee has already been expanded twice in the last two years, and some members oppose adding more. Johnson needs to be careful with his selections, as past picks have upset some members. Stefanik’s return was essential for a procedural vote, where her vote was decisive, leading her to be named chair of the House Republican leadership. There is still uncertainty about what leadership role Stefanik will assume on the Intelligence Committee, as she has more seniority than the current vice chair. The situation highlights the challenges of accommodating Stefanik back into the committee without disrupting the existing members.
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