Stefanik ‘honored’ to be named chairwoman of House GOP leadership after UN nomination withdrawal

Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) has been appointed to a plum station connected nan House Republican activity team and will beryllium getting her spots backmost connected cardinal committees successful nan little enclosure weeks aft her information to beryllium US ambassador to nan United Nations was pulled. 

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) connected Wednesday tapped nan New York congresswoman to service arsenic nan chairwoman of House GOP leadership, a elder position focused connected strategy, communications and “executing connected nan instruction from nan American group to walk President Trump’s agenda,” according to a release from her office. 

This position includes a budget, staff, and an “expansive” strategy, legislative, and communications portfolio, nan congresswoman’s agency said. 

Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-NY, testifies during a Senate Committee connected Foreign Relations proceeding connected her pending confirmation to beryllium nan United Nations Ambassador connected Capitol Hill, Jan. 21, 2025, successful Washington. AP

“I americium honored to beryllium appointed Chairwoman of House Republican Leadership to lead House Republicans successful implementing President Donald Trump’s instruction from nan American group for an America First schedule that includes securing our borders, strengthening our nationalist security, increasing our economy, and combating nan scourge of antisemitism crossed our country,” Stefanik said successful a statement. 

Stefanik, who has represented New York’s 21st Congressional District since 2021, besides revealed that she will person a spot connected nan 3 House committees she served connected successful nan past Congress. 

“I’m proud to proceed my activity arsenic a elder Member of nan House Intelligence Committee, House Armed Services Committee, and nan Education and nan Workforce Committee to unafraid results for my constituents successful New York’s 21st Congressional District and nan American people,” nan congresswoman said. “I look guardant to nan activity up successful enacting President Trump’s historical agenda.”

It’s unclear what benignant of maneuvering Johnson is readying to get Stefanik backmost connected nan intel committee, which is presently full. 

“The Speaker will beryllium moving pinch [Chairman Rick Crawford (R-Ark.)] and HPSCI members to get Rep. Stefanik reintegrated into nan Intelligence Committee successful nan coming weeks,” a spokesperson for Johnson told NBC News Thursday. “They some look guardant to having her expertise backmost connected nan committee.”

Speaker of nan House Mike Johnson, R-La., talks to reporters conscionable aft House Republicans narrowly approved their fund framework, astatine nan Capitol successful Washington, connected April 10, 2025. AP

The outlet reported that nan House speaker whitethorn inquire 1 of nan much inferior Republicans connected nan sheet to measurement down aliases alteration House rules to grow nan committee. 

In addition, Stefanik was named to nan boards of nan Congressional-Executive Commission connected China and nan Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation. 

President Trump tapped nan 40-year-old lawmaker for nan UN post successful November but asked her to stay successful Congress past period with House Republicans facing reliable votes connected their tax, defense, power and separator priorities successful nan coming weeks.

“This is astir stepping up arsenic a team,” Stefanik told Fox News astatine nan time. “I americium doing that arsenic a leader to guarantee that we tin return clasp of this instruction and present these historical results.”

Trump, 78, made clear that Stefanik was “one of my biggest Allies” and promised that she would “rejoin nan House Leadership Team” aft announcing her departure.

“We must beryllium unified to execute our Mission, and Elise Stefanik has been a captious portion of our efforts from nan very beginning,” he said of nan congresswoman who was besides connected his shortlist for nan vice presidency successful 2024.