WASHINGTON — Speaker Mike Johnson said he selected Rep. Rick Crawford, R-Ark., to serve as the next chairman of the House Intelligence Committee on Thursday, one day after Johnson made the stunning decision to oust Rep. Mike Turner, R-Ohio, from the role.

First District Congressman Rick Crawford has been appointed as chairman of the U.S. House Intelligence Committee. Crawford, who is a native of Jonesboro in Craighead County, called the appointment a huge responsibility and honor.

The speaker replaced a Republican who had criticized the president-elect and broken with him on key issues, and who had drawn the ire and suspicion of those close to the president-elect.

U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton and U.S. Rep. Rick Crawford, two of Arkansas' six federal lawmakers, now serve in Congress' top roles overseeing the nation's intelligence efforts, responsibilities which involve receiving classified briefings on pressing international security issues.

Speaker Mike Johnson appointed a relatively unknown MAGA loyalist on Thursday to lead the House Intelligence Committee after he stunned colleagues by ousting the previous chairman—who blamed his firing on Donald Trump.

Mike Johnson is expected to appoint Arkansas Representative Rick Crawford to replace Ohio's Mike Turner as chair of the House Intelligence Committee. This move is purportedly not influenced by President-elect Trump.

Arkansas Republican Rep. Rick Crawford succeeds Ohio GOP Rep. Michael R. Turner, whom the speaker removed a day earlier.

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) on Thursday selected Rep. Rick Crawford (R-Ark.) to chair the House Intelligence Committee, elevating the veteran panel member to the role after he removed Rep. Mike

There are three ways for a sitting senator or representative to be removed from Congress. Members of Congress do not face term limits, but they do face elections. Arkansas elected its latest House Representatives in 2024. Senate elections will be held Nov. 3, 2026.

Representatives Rick Crawford and Steve Womack of Arkansas have been appointed to lead the House Intelligence Committee and a key Appropriations subcommittee, respectively.

Speaker Mike Johnson is remaking the House Intelligence Committee in President-elect Donald Trump’s image, a shakeup with immense implications as the president-elect returns to power.