Speaker Mike Johnson has removed Representative Michael R. Turner of Ohio from his position as chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, a decision that marks a significant shift in the committee’s alignment.
Announced on Wednesday, the move has sparked widespread speculation about closer ties between the committee and President-elect Trump, who has been openly critical of the intelligence community. Johnson cited the need for a “fresh start” as the rationale for his decision, but sources close to Turner claim the removal followed a request from Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate. While Johnson has denied Trump’s involvement, the decision is widely viewed as a nod to Trump’s ongoing skepticism of the intelligence community, which he has often described as part of a politicized “deep state.”
NBC News writes:
“It’s a new Congress. We just need fresh horses in some of these places. But I’m a Mike Turner fan,” Johnson told reporters in the Capitol. “He’s done a great job. He performed valiantly in a difficult time under difficult circumstances. So I have nothing but positive things to say about my friend and colleague.”
“This is not a President Trump decision; this is a House decision,” the speaker added, referring to speculation that politics may have led to the change. “And this is no slight whatsoever to our … outgoing chairman.”
The top post on the Intelligence Committee is one of the few positions directly chosen by the speaker of the House at the start of a new Congress. Johnson said he would make an announcement about Turner’s replacement on Thursday.
Last year, Johnson raised eyebrows in the intelligence community and around Capitol Hill when he appointed two Donald Trump loyalists, Reps. Scott Perry, R-Pa., and Ronny Jackson, R-Texas, to the Intelligence Committee.
Turner, a veteran legislator with 20 years of experience in the House, has at times found himself at odds with Trump, noted The New York Times. He notably voted to certify President Joe Biden’s 2020 election victory, diverging from many members of his party. Turner has also been a vocal supporter of U.S. military aid to Ukraine, a position that contrasts sharply with Trump’s “America First” stance and has created divisions within Republican ranks. His tenure on the Intelligence Committee was further complicated by his criticism of Trump’s controversial 2019 phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, which became central to Trump’s first impeachment. Additionally, Turner raised concerns about the storage of classified documents at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate, adding to the friction between the two.
Despite these tensions, Turner earned bipartisan respect for his ability to foster collaboration and maintain professionalism on the Intelligence Committee. His removal also coincides with the expiration of his eligibility to serve on the committee due to term limits, which prevent members from remaining on the panel for more than a decade.
