House Republicans’ steering committee recommended Rep. Brian Mast on Monday to become the next chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, two people familiar with the decision told POLITICO.
The decision still needs to be ratified by the full conference. But the GOP steering committee, which doles out most committee gavels and assignments, picked Mast (R-Fla.) as their recommendation to be the next chair during a closed-door meeting where they heard from each of the candidates for the gavel.
Mast faced off against Reps. Ann Wagner (R-Mo.), Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) and Darrell Issa (R-Calif.). Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas), the current chair, is term-limited. Though he initially sought a waiver to remain atop the committee starting in January, McCaul announced in November that he was bowing out of the race.
As the vote counting dragged out, Rep. Kevin Hern (R-Okla.), who was recently elected House GOP policy chair, joked that it was “rough” in the room with plenty of “arm twisting.”
Mast’s ascendance comes as he has closely embraced Trump. The Florida Republican served as the national chair of Veterans for Trump, leading attacks on Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Walz’s claims about his military record.
He wasn’t the only one in the mix who embraced Trump. Wagner previously told POLITICO that contenders “should” lean into their Trump ties.
Meanwhile, Issa is known for his aggressive approach leading the House Oversight panel. He pitched himself as the most prepared to take over the gavel, given his previous experience leading a committee and substantial travel schedule.
McCaul, as committee chair, led the House GOP’s investigation into the withdrawal from Afghanistan.
The committee will be at the center of the congressional debate over any additional Ukraine aid, which Speaker Mike Johnson ruled out passing before Trump comes into office, as well as dealing with Trump’s foreign policy more generally. Additional funding related to Ukraine staunchly divides congressional Republicans.
Joe Gould contributed to this report.
