Trump’s Cabinet picks could be complicated by GOP math in the House

As President-elect Donald Trump begins assembling his second-term Cabinet, he faces a significant dilemma: balancing the need for experienced lawmakers in his administration with the narrow GOP majority in the House of Representatives. With several prominent Republicans vying for Cabinet positions, Speaker Mike Johnson cannot afford to lose too many of his members in the upcoming Congress, and that could complicate Trump’s plans.

Recently, Trump announced his first two Cabinet picks—New York Rep. Elise Stefanik as UN ambassador and Florida Rep. Mike Waltz as national security adviser. Both have long been loyal to Trump, but their departure from the House would reduce the GOP’s already slim majority, potentially destabilizing Johnson’s control over the chamber.

The question is how many House Republicans Trump can poach without jeopardizing his party’s grip on power. While the House GOP remains one of Trump’s strongest bases of support, senior Republicans warn that too many defections could make the difference between a working majority and a precarious one. GOP leaders have made it clear to the Trump team that they need to be cautious about draining the ranks of House members, who will be critical in the next legislative session.

GOP Leaders Wary of Cabinet Shuffles

Rep. Kelly Armstrong, who will soon leave Congress to become governor of North Dakota, emphasized the importance of maintaining the House’s narrow majority. “We have a lot of talent, but you have to give Mike [Johnson] some room to operate,” Armstrong said. The risk of losing too many votes could prove fatal to the GOP’s legislative agenda, especially with such a tight