Stefanik returns to House Intelligence panel after Johnson adds seats

GOP Rep. Elise Stefanik returned Friday to the House Intelligence Committee after Speaker Mike Johnson added seats to the panel – ending an awkward political situation for them after President Trump withdrew her ambassadorship nomination for her to return to Congress. 

The House approved via unanimous consent on Friday to change its rules to allow no more than 27 members to sit on the House Intelligence Committee, an increase from no more than 25 members, The Hill news outlet reported. Johnson then appointed Stefanik and Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tenn., to the panel.

Stefanik left Congress – and her position on the committee – after Trump nominated her to be the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Concerned about his legislation failing in the House because of the Republicans' razor-thin majority in the chamber, Trump earlier this year withdrew Stefanik's nomination so she could add the GOP numbers. 

Johnson filled the committee's seats at the beginning of the congressional term, leaving no room for Stefanik to rejoin. He announced in April that Stefanik would return as the chairwoman of the House Republican Leadership, the other high-profile position she lost in the shuffle. 

“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,” Stefanik said in April. “I look forward to the work ahead in enacting President Trump’s historic agenda.”