Speaker Johnson Removes GOP Member From Powerful Committee

Speaker Mike Johnson has decided to remove Rep. Mike Turner from his role as chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, following an extended period of tension that began with a warning Turner issued last February regarding Russian space technology.

“Today, the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence has made available to all Members of Congress information concerning a serious national security threat,” Turner stated at the time, sparking widespread concern.

Turner’s connections to the intelligence establishment have been a point of contention for some Republicans, particularly among the more Trump-aligned members of the party. Disagreements on various issues have amplified the divide.

Responding to his removal, Turner shared a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter.

“I’m very proud to have served on the House Intelligence Committee and as its chairman. There are great members on the Committee, and I’m honored to have served with them,” Turner wrote.

He highlighted his accomplishments, saying, “Under my leadership, we restored the integrity of the Committee and returned its mission to its core focus of national security. The threat from our adversaries is real and requires serious deliberations. As a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee, I have been and will continue to be a strong advocate for the military and our national defense.”

Turner also expressed his continued commitment to his district, stating, “My work to expand missions and capabilities at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base continues. Furthermore, I look forward to welcoming the NATO Parliamentary Assembly to Dayton in the coming months.”

Rep. Jim Himes, the top Democrat on the committee, criticized the decision, saying it sent a “shiver” down his spine.

“The removal of Chairman Turner makes our nation less secure and is a terrible portent for what’s to come. The Constitution demands that Congress function as a check and balance to the executive branch, not cater to its demands,” Himes said.

Speaker Johnson, addressing the matter, aimed to reassure the public. “I’ve read Chairman Turner’s statement on the issue, and I want to assure the American people there’s no need for public alarm,” he stated.

While Johnson refrained from discussing classified details, he emphasized, “I’m not at liberty to disclose classified information and really can’t say much of that, but we just want to assure everyone, steady hands are at the wheel, we’re working on it. There’s no need for alarm.”

Separately, Johnson expressed optimism about advancing President-elect Donald Trump’s legislative priorities. He shared plans to pass much of Trump’s agenda through one “big, beautiful bill” by Memorial Day.

In an interview with Fox News, Johnson explained that Republicans intend to use a massive reconciliation bill to bypass the 60-vote threshold in the Senate. A simple majority of 50 votes is sufficient to pass such legislation.

“We’re 15 days out from the inauguration of President Donald J. Trump for his second term. And we want to make sure that we’re jump-starting the agenda now over the next two weeks, so that he’s prepared and ready on day one,” Johnson said.

He continued, “At the end of the day, President Trump is going to prefer, as he likes to say, one big, beautiful bill. And there’s a lot of merit to that, because we can put it all together, one big up-or-down vote, which can save the country, quite literally, because there are so many elements to it. And it’ll give us a little bit more time to negotiate that and get it right.”