Rep. Brian Mast’s (R-Fla.) stunning choice to be the following chair of the Home International Affairs Committee is the newest signal of the Republican Occasion being reshaped by the following era of “America First,” pro-Trump leaders.
Thought-about a darkish horse within the race, the embellished battle veteran, who dons prosthetic legs after stepping on an improvised explosive machine in Afghanistan in 2010, beat three extra senior Home Republicans to steer the committee within the subsequent Congress.
Some sources had the impression that President-elect Trump — who has favored elevating Florida lawmakers in his incoming Cupboard — had affect in Mast securing the gavel, although one Steering Committee member mentioned Mast “did it all on his own.”
“I have a great relationship with President Trump. Obviously, I represent his area down there,” Mast instructed The Hill, referring to his Mar-a-Lago space district.
Mast mentioned that the imaginative and prescient he offered to Home GOP Steering Committee leaders on Monday targeted on an “America First” mission assertion: “Every diplomat and every dollar puts America first.”
“We want to be the partner of choice abroad,” Mast mentioned. “It can’t be because you do things like drag shows in Ecuador, or atheism in Nepal or, you know, take your pick of things. Those are not things that make America the partner of choice — they’re a waste of taxpayer dollars that most people would not agree with even if it did make us a partner for somebody.”
Mast additionally forecast plans for the committee to conduct a serious reauthorization effort. Congress has not handed a complete overseas relations reauthorization legislation since 2002, although it has handed different legal guidelines establishing new State Division authorities, congressional oversight provisions and different authorizations.
One member of the GOP Steering Committee mentioned that Mast had a “superb and clear” presentation. Whereas the three different contenders for the International Affairs gavel — Reps. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.), Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) and Ann Wagner (R-Mo.) — all had a decade or two of expertise in Congress, Mast was first elected in 2016.
Outgoing International Affairs Committee Chair Michael McCaul (R-Texas), who was term-limited and declined to hunt a waiver to maintain the gavel, mentioned he recognized with Mast’s ascension.
“I was a dark horse like he was. So I identify with that,” McCaul mentioned of his earlier chairing of the Home Homeland Safety Committee. McCaul mentioned he’ll stay on the International Affairs Committee as chair emeritus and is providing his mentorship to Mast.
“That committee declares war, has the power to do so, and at a time when the world’s on fire, it’s not a time to get down into personalities,” he mentioned. “And my job as the chairman emeritus is to make sure this committee stays on course, on track to help the next administration bring peace to the world and not war.”
Mast’s rise additionally caught overseas diplomats unexpectedly.
One diplomat serving in D.C. mentioned Mast’s election was sudden and that Wagner or Issa appeared extra probably. The diplomat mentioned they’ve engaged with Mast earlier than and see his positions as intently aligning with Trump’s.
One other diplomat, additionally shocked by Mast’s win, mentioned Wagner regarded like a powerful contender, and there was optimism round Wilson, given his outspoken criticisms of Russian President Vladimir Putin and stalwart help for Ukraine.
“But I always thought it would be too naive under current circumstances,” the diplomat mentioned.
One main query is what method Mast will take to overseas conflicts. Mast is a staunch supporter of Israel and volunteered alongside the Israel Protection Forces, however he has been extra skeptical of continuous U.S. monetary help for Ukraine.
Mast earlier this yr voted towards a $60 billion Ukraine support package deal, writing in a Newsweek op-ed that “Europe has all the money it needs to ensure Kyiv’s survival if only it would open up its wallet to the extent it expects America to do.”
“I expect complete alignment with the position of Trump, I don’t see too much room for Mast’s personal initiatives with regard to Ukraine. I expect that Israel probably will be a higher priority on his agenda,” the overseas diplomat mentioned.
Mast will probably discover frequent trigger with a vehemently pro-Israel overseas coverage staff within the Trump administration, together with Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), his decide for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations; Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) for secretary of State; and Rep. Mike Waltz (R-Fla.) for nationwide safety adviser.
As chair of the Home International Affairs subcommittee on oversight and accountability, Mast has targeted on scrutinizing the place American {dollars} are going and in the event that they serve U.S. pursuits.
Amongst his largest criticisms is the invention {that a} $500,000 grant to a humanist group could have been misused to advertise atheism in Nepal and Asia whereas it was meant to advertise non secular freedom.
Throughout a International Affairs Committee listening to Wednesday scrutinizing the Biden administration’s withdrawal from Afghanistan, Mast pressed Secretary of State Antony Blinken on oblique U.S. help to Afghanistan, which he mentioned was filling the coffers of the Taliban, the U.S.-designated terrorist group who overtook the nation in 2021.
“We do not even have an embassy there, we have no business even putting one dollar into that place,” Mast mentioned to Blinken.
“I respectfully disagree,” Blinken responded. “I think the work we have done through these partners and many other countries have done, have saved many, many lives in an incredibly difficult situation.”
Rep. Jim Costa (D-Calif.), a Democratic member of the International Affairs Committee, was additionally shocked by Mast’s choice, saying he thought Wagner and Wilson had shot on the gavel. Requested if he had any issues about bipartisan work on the committee persevering with, Costa mentioned he would give Mast the good thing about the doubt.
“The proof is in the pudding. We’ll see what he does,” Costa instructed The Hill. “I hope that like Mike McCaul, he establishes bipartisan working efforts with both sides of the committee. That’s my hope.”
