Stefanik receives intelligence update following conversation with Trump, Johnson

Representative Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) announced that she successfully obtained a measure in the annual defense legislation mandating that Congress be informed whenever federal candidates are subject to counterintelligence investigations. This development followed a productive discussion she held Tuesday evening with President Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.).

The achievement comes after Stefanik had publicly criticized Johnson for initially omitting the provision from the defense bill, accusing him of undermining the Republican agenda and misrepresenting the reasons for the exclusion.

Following a constructive conversation with President Trump and Speaker Johnson, the language requiring Congressional notification when the FBI initiates counterintelligence investigations into presidential and federal candidates will be included in the IAA/NDAA bill on the floor, Stefanik posted on social media Wednesday morning. She added that the inclusion represents a major legislative success in addressing what she described as the misuse of federal agencies, while acknowledging that additional work remains.

The move marks a notable win for Stefanik after she voiced on X earlier in the week that Democratic opposition was blocking her provision, and that the Speaker was aligning with them to impede it. Her criticism represented a rare public rebuke of House leadership.

Underlying tensions between Stefanik and Johnson may also relate to earlier events this year, when Trump withdrew her nomination for U.N. ambassadora position she had given up her House Republican Conference chair role to accept. Johnson subsequently appointed her to a lesser leadership position. Trump cited concerns about the GOPs narrow House majority as the reason for withdrawing the nomination.

Johnson, for his part, pushed back against Stefaniks claims during a press briefing, noting he had no involvement in the matter and expressing willingness to assist. He attributed the issue to disagreements among the chairs and ranking members of the House and Senate Judiciary Committees over the inclusion of the provision.

The provision itself responds to past federal investigations, such as the Crossfire Hurricane inquiry into Trumps 2016 campaign and Russia, and is intended to ensure congressional leaders are notified when similar investigations occur. Stefanik emphasized the measures importance in light of ongoing investigations, including the Arctic Frost inquiry led by former special counsel Jack Smith, which reportedly involved the collection of phone records from GOP lawmakers without prior notification.

Previously, Stefanik had successfully added language requiring such notifications to the Intelligence Authorization Act (IAA), which passed the House Intelligence Committee in September. The IAA is scheduled to be attached to the must-pass National Defense Authorization Act.

Author: Noah Whitman