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 post on the House Republican leadership team and will be getting her spots back on key committees in the lower chamber weeks after her nomination to be US ambassador to the United Nations was pulled. 

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) on Wednesday tapped the New York congresswoman to serve as the chairwoman of House GOP leadership, a senior position focused on strategy, communications and “executing on the mandate from the American people to pass 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, the congresswoman’s office said. 

“I am honored to be appointed Chairwoman of House Republican Leadership to lead House Republicans in implementing President Donald Trump’s mandate from the American people for an America First agenda that includes securing our borders, strengthening our national security, growing our economy, and combating the scourge of antisemitism across our country,” Stefanik said in a statement. 

Stefanik, who has represented New York’s 21st Congressional District since 2021, also revealed that she will have a seat on the three House committees she served on in the last Congress. 

“I’m proud to continue my work as a senior Member of the House Intelligence Committee, House Armed Services Committee, and the Education and the Workforce Committee to secure results for my constituents in New York’s 21st Congressional District and the American people,” the congresswoman said. “I look forward to the work ahead in enacting President Trump’s historic agenda.”

It’s unclear what sort of maneuvering Johnson is planning to get Stefanik back on the intel committee, which is currently full. 

“The Speaker will be working with [Chairman Rick Crawford (R-Ark.)] and HPSCI members to get Rep. Stefanik reintegrated into the Intelligence Committee in the coming weeks,” a spokesman for Johnson told NBC News Thursday. “They both look forward to having her expertise back on the committee.”

The outlet reported that the House speaker may ask one of the more junior Republicans on the panel to step down or change House rules to expand the committee. 

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

President Trump tapped the 40-year-old lawmaker for the UN post in November but asked her to remain in Congress last month with House Republicans facing tough votes on their tax, defense, energy and border priorities in the coming weeks.

“This is about stepping up as a team,” Stefanik told Fox News at the time. “I am doing that as a leader to ensure that we can take hold of this mandate and deliver these historic results.”

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

“We must be unified to accomplish our Mission, and Elise Stefanik has been a vital part of our efforts from the very beginning,” he said of the congresswoman who was also on his shortlist for the vice presidency in 2024.