By Shane CroucherShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberRepublican Representative Elise Stefanik claimed victory in her clash with GOP House Speaker Mike Johnson over a provision she wanted in the annual defense bill that would require Congressional disclosure when the FBI opens investigations into presidential and federal candidates.
It is the latest pain point for Johnson's leadership of House Republicans, which has come under increasing pressure in recent weeks as he juggles splits among the MAGA movement and holding together a razor-thin majority, exemplified by the recent debacle around the vote to release the Epstein files.
Just 10 months into the Trump administration, some GOP members have become frustrated that their majorities in the House and Senate are not being fully utilized to pass legislation at pace before the 2026 midterms.
Stefanik, a party leader, said that following "productive" discussions with Johnson and U.S. President Donald Trump, the provision will now be included in the bill on the floor. "This is a significant legislative win delivered against the illegal weaponization of the deep state," Stefanik said in a post on X. "And, of course, while this is an important step, there is so much more work to do."
...Johnson Called Stefanik's Accusations 'False'
The congresswoman from New York is the Chairwoman of House Republican Leadership. She openly criticized Johnson over the provision, a rare public spat between leaders, accusing him in a blistering series of social media posts of siding with House Democrats to remove it from the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which is working through Congress.
Johnson, during a Tuesday press conference, responded to a question about Stefanik's rebuke, saying "all" of her accusations are "false." He said they had spoken by text and that the issue "hasn't even made it to my level," which he said was handled in the committee.
The Louisiana Republican said chairs and ranking members in both chambers need to agree to the provision before it can be added, but this had not happened.
Stefanik accuses Democrats of weaponizing federal investigations by using them against political opponents, citing the Crossfire Hurricane and Arctic Frost probes into Trump and his Republican allies, which included surveillance operations against sitting lawmakers, and wants to ensure Congress is notified in the future.
The NDAA was sent to the House from the Senate on November 12, where it remains held pending further amendments and votes.
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