Elise Stefanik gets release date from House purgatory
It's been more than four months since President Trump announced Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) as his UN ambassador — and she finally has a date for when she will be free from the House.
Why it matters: House Speaker Mike Johnson's (R-La.) slim margins, GOP detractors like Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Trump's shopping spree in the House to fill top administration positions have left Stefanik behind to ensure the House has the votes to get things done.
Stefanik's nomination is set to move on April 2, two sources familiar told Axios. That will allow time for the winners of the Florida special elections on April 1 to fill the seats vacated by former Reps. Matt Gaetz and Mike Waltz, the new White House national security adviser. Stefanik's confirmation vote will happen immediately after the new members are seated, a Trump official involved in the process told Axios. It's not expected to be a controversial vote.
The two new members will finally give Johnson a little bit more wiggle room in the House and could make him feel better about giving up Stefanik. "Elise will be an outstanding U.S. ambassador to the United Nations," House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) told Axios in a statement. "She has been a true team player, supporting President Trump and the House majority while seamlessly transitioning to her new role at USUN," he added. "Congresswoman Stefanik is a great ally to President Trump, and we look forward to her confirmation as the next ambassador to the United Nations," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told Axios.