GOP Conflict Erupting as Elise Stefanik Criticizes Mike Johnson for Being Outmaneuvered by Democrats

Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) publicly criticized House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) on social media, accusing him of yielding to Democrats and opposing Republicans aligned with former President Donald Trump. Her comments began Monday when she posted on X that Johnson was being rolled by House Dems who were attempting to block her proposal requiring Congressional notification when the FBI initiates counterintelligence investigations into presidential and federal candidates.

The dispute arose after Democrats opposed Stefaniks measure in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which would compel federal investigators to inform Congress when opening counterintelligence probes targeting candidates. Stefanik has been advocating this requirement for several years, citing the FBI investigation into the 2016 Trump campaign and its alleged ties to Russia.

Republicans control the House, Senate, and White House, yet the deep state is alive and well with the Speaker getting rolled by House Dems attempting to block my provision to require Congressional disclosure when the FBI opens counterintelligence investigations into Elise Stefanik, December 1, 2025

On Tuesday, Stefanik intensified her criticism, asserting that Johnson was blocking her initiative to prevent illegal weaponization linked to operations like Crossfire Hurricane and Arctic Frost. She accused him of siding with Rep. Jamie Raskin to protect the deep state.

I just walked out of a briefing on this issue this morning confirming everything I posted yesterday. The Speaker is blocking my provision to root out illegal weaponization that led to Crossfire Hurricane, Arctic Frost, and more. He is siding with Jamie Elise Stefanik, December 2, 2025

She added that the NDAA would be effectively dead on arrival unless her provision was included, as it had passed committee approval.

Johnson responded, denying Stefaniks allegations. He released a statement claiming the accusations were false and noted that he had contacted her via text, questioning why she had not reached out directly. Johnson emphasized that her provision had not yet reached his level of consideration.

All of that is false. I dont exactly know why Elise wont just call me. I texted her yesterday. Shes upset one of her provisions is not being made, I think, into the NDAA As soon as I heard this yesterday, I was campaigning in Tennessee, and I wrote Jake Sherman, December 2, 2025

Stefanik, who recently launched her campaign for New York governor, acknowledged receiving Johnsons text but dismissed his claims as lies. She accused the Speaker of routinely undermining Republican priorities and stressed that her measure was essential to combatting what she described as deep state rot.

Just more lies from the Speaker. This is his preferred tactic to tell Members when he gets caught torpedoing the Republican agenda. It wasnt on your radar? This is the ONLY provision in the bill to root out the deep state rot Elise Stefanik, December 2, 2025

Author: Sophia Brooks