Outgoing House Republican Defense Hawks to Vacate Chairmanships Before End of Year
House Republican defense hawks, Rep. Kay Granger and Rep. Mike Gallagher, announced their decision to vacate their respective chairmanships of high-profile national security committees before the end of the year. This move comes as both lawmakers had previously announced they would not seek reelection this November, adding to a wave of Republican retirements.
Granger, who currently serves as House Appropriations Chairwoman, stated that she would step down from her committee position while serving out the remainder of her term. On the other hand, Gallagher, who chairs the Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, announced his resignation in April, further narrowing the House GOP’s majority and leaving a vacant position atop the China-focused panel.
The departure of these two influential lawmakers comes at a critical time, as the House recently passed the fiscal 2024 government funding package, including the $825 billion defense spending bill. With the Senate yet to vote on the bill, funding for the Defense Department and other agencies is set to expire at midnight.
Granger emphasized the importance of ensuring a seamless transition before the development of the FY25 bill, while Gallagher expressed his commitment to seeing a new chair appointed to continue the important mission of the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party.
The resignations of Granger and Gallagher, along with the earlier departure of Rep. Ken Buck, will reduce the House Republican majority to a one-vote margin. This shift in leadership comes as traditional defense hawks like Granger and Gallagher face increasing challenges from the America First wing of the party, led by former President Donald Trump.
As the House navigates these changes in leadership, the future of key national security and defense policies remains uncertain. Stay tuned for updates on how these developments will impact the direction of U.S. foreign policy and international affairs.