The House Republican Steering Committee selected Republican Reps. Nathaniel Moran, Rudy Yakym, Max Miller and Aaron Bean to join the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee next year, according to a source familiar with the vote.

The panel will be at the center of next year’s mammoth battle over tax cuts pushed by President-elect Donald Trump, with Chair Jason Smith (R-Mo.) in the thick of plotting strategy for the effort.

The new members will replace Reps. Brad Wenstrup of Ohio and Drew Ferguson of Georgia, neither of whom sought reelection to the incoming Congress. Rep. Michelle Steel of California also won’t be rejoining the committee next year, after losing reelection to Democrat Derek Tran for her Orange County seat.

Several other members had indicated interest in the coveted Ways and Means seats but didn’t end up nabbing the spots.

“There’s plenty of talent, more talent than we have spots,” said House Budget Committee Chair Jodey Arrington (R-Texas), a member of the steering committee.

A seat on the committee — which deals with taxes, trade and other issues — is always considered a plum assignment. But it will be an even more powerful perch next year, with jurisdiction over numerous policies Trump has touted.

The new members represent areas of the Midwest, the South and the West: Moran is from Texas, Yakym from Indiana, Miller from Ohio and Bean from Florida.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell sharply criticized associates of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Health and Human Services Department, for seeking to rescind approval of the polio vaccine.

McConnell, a polio survivor, said in a statement that “efforts to undermine public confidence in proven cures are not just uninformed — they’re dangerous.”

In a Friday report, The New York Times detailed the involvement of an attorney for Kennedy, Aaron Siri, in seeking to rescind approval of the polio vaccine and others.

“From the age of two, normal life without paralysis was only possible for me because of the miraculous combination of modern medicine and a mother’s love. But for millions who came after me, the real miracle was the saving power of the polio vaccine,” McConnell said. “Anyone seeking the Senate’s consent to serve in the incoming Administration would do well to steer clear of even the appearance of association with such efforts.”

The House Freedom Caucus is throwing its weight behind a two-step, party-line policy push, with the ultra-conservative bloc calling for an initial bill to address border security that’s fully paid for and a second push for tax and other policy priorities.

“Border security must move first — and then we should move forward to a second, larger reconciliation bill covering taxes, spending, energy, bureaucracy and more,” the group’s board of directors wrote in a letter to Speaker Mike Johnson.

Divisions are already popping up among Republicans as to how to approach the reconciliation process with some, like Ways and Means Chair Rep. Jason Smith (R-Mo.), calling for one bill. Incoming Senate Majority Leader John Thune hasoutlined a plan for GOP senators in which the policy priorities would be split into two parts under budget reconciliation rules, which would allow the GOP to bypass a Democratic filibuster.

With days to go until House Democrats decide who gets top committee spot, Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and Gerry Connolly of Virginia are racing to lock down votes to lead their party on the Oversight and Accountability panel.

Many Democrats saw Ocasio-Cortez as having the upper hand heading into next week, but both Connolly and Ocasio-Cortez’s camps are confident of their chances, with Connolly’s supporters saying they will have the support of a majority of the caucus and the Steering Committee. Ocasio-Cortez also has a team working to whip votes in her favor, said a person granted anonymity to discuss her operation.

The powerful Steering and Policy Committee will convene on Monday to debate and vote on recommendations to the full caucus for the committee leadership positions. Then, the full caucus will vote Tuesday morning on the committee contenders. The caucus generally follows the steering panel’s recommendations.

Connolly’s supporters believe they have roughly 130 yes or lean yes votes, according to a House Democrat granted anonymity to discuss the Virginia lawmaker’s whip count. There are 215 members of the Democratic Caucus next Congress. The House Democrat added that they were “confident” Connolly had “locked up” both a majority of the Steering Committee and the full caucus.

“Gerry has the support of a majority of the Democratic Caucus. We are confident he will be the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, and I think he will be very good at that job,” said a senior Democratic aide close to Connolly’s whipping process.

Ocasio-Cortez and her allies, meanwhile, have been having conversations with a broad cross-section of the caucus as she tries to rally support for her bid. She and Connolly made closed-door presentations to the Democratic Caucus’ power centers — the tri-caucus of affinity groups and the ideological caucuses — and they’ve also quietly approached their fellow lawmakers on the House floor as they laid out their vision for the panel. The recent backing of key Democratic constituencies and belief that they have the backing of most current Oversight Committee members has bolstered the confidence of Ocasio-Cortez’s allies. Democrats see the high-profile panel as a foil to President-elect Donald Trump and his allies.

The race in many ways is a test of how far Democrats will go as they face a pent-up urge to make sweeping generational changes within the caucus, a yearslong push that threatened to boil over post-election. Democrats don’t have term limits for their panel heads, leading to grumbling among younger Democrats whose paths upward have been stifled.

Top Democratic leaders are all publicly professing neutrality in the ranking member contests and say they’ll let the caucus work its will. But former leaders aren’t bound by the same concerns.

Connolly has a powerful backer in his corner: Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi has been privately stumping for Connolly, a longtime ally, and making calls on his behalf, according to three people familiar with the situation. She’s also been boosting her fellow Californians Rep. Jared Huffman for the Natural Resources Committee and Rep. Jim Costa for the Agriculture Committee. Punchbowl News earlier reported the Pelosi outreach.

Democrats mounted challenges to committee leaders who had faced questions about their attendance and ability to serve as ranking members amid health struggles. Rep. Jerry Nadler of New York stepped out of the Judiciary race, and Rep. Raúl Grijalva of Arizona also ended his committee bid. Rep. David Scott of Georgia has stayed in the race to be the top Agriculture Committee Democrat despite strong challengers.

But Connolly supporters reject any comparison between their race against Ocasio-Cortez and the other Democrat-on-Democrat battles and specifically point to Pelosi’s support for him. The former speaker has been unflinching in her work over the past year to pressure Democrats she feels are no longer up to the job, including President Joe Biden and reportedly Nadler, to give up their positions.

Connolly said he was diagnosed with cancer in a statement after the election. In private conversations as he sought the top Oversight spot, the House Democrat said, Connolly has pledged to his colleagues that he will be transparent about the status of his diagnosis, including if it were to unexpectedly worsen.

Connolly ran for the top Oversight job last Congress, ultimately losing to Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland, who’s jumping to be the top Judiciary panel Democrat. A second House Democrat, granted anonymity to disclose private discussions, said Raskin has told colleagues he is staying neutral in the race to succeed him at least until the Judiciary race is settled.

Some ideological lines were drawn too, with Ocasio-Cortez winning the Progressive Caucus endorsement and Connolly winning the endorsement of the centrist New Democrat Coalition’s leadership. Ocasio-Cortez won the Congressional Hispanic Caucus’ endorsement as well, though at least one of its members — Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-Calif.), the chair of its political arm — is whipping for Connolly, according to the first House Democrat granted anonymity. Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.) is also whipping for Connolly.

Top House Oversight Democrat Jamie Raskin is seeking information from the Trump-Vance transition team about how nominees will undergo background checks, including a “clear assurance” that an FBI background check will be performed for all Trump administration picks.

Raskin (D-Md.) sent a letter on Friday to Howard Lutnick and Linda McMahon, the co-chairs of the Trump-Vance transition, saying that while the transition team has “reached an agreement with the Department of Justice that makes it possible for the FBI to conduct background checks, it remains unclear whether the Transition will require nominees to submit to them.”

The Trump-Vance transition signed an agreement with the DOJ earlier this month allowing the transition team to “submit names for background checks and security clearances.” But Raskin pointed to reporting from Semafor about concerns from some nominees about undergoing a background check until the FBI has a new director, or potentially using the private sector to conduct the checks. The Trump team’s decision to initially brush off putting its nominees through FBI background checks sparked pushback from Democrats and some Senate Republicans.

“Given this muddled record, I urge you to clearly and unequivocally commit to requiring that all nominees undergo FBI background checks and submit to vetting before receiving access to classified information,” Raskin wrote in the letter.

In addition, Raskin is also requesting that the transition team hand over any contracts or agreements they have with private companies to conduct background checks or vet transition officials or individuals who will serve in the administration to the committee no later than Dec. 20.

Raskin also wants the transition team to hand over any documents related to Boris Epshteyn “and, to the extent applicable, any other figures in the transition who have been investigated for any type of improper conduct.” Senate Democrats have also requested information related to Epshteyn over allegations that he allegedly tried to profit off of advocating for potential nominees to Trump. Epshteyn has denied the allegations.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack called his likely successor at USDA, Brooke Rollins, and left a voicemail — but hasn’t received a response, he told reporters Friday.

“I received her cell phone number from a senator who had visited with her, and I called, I used it immediately, called her and left a message,” Vilsack said. “At any point in time, if she thinks it’s appropriate and necessary, and she would like to talk, I’d be more than happy to talk to her.”

President-elect Donald Trump announced Nov. 23 that he will nominate Rollins to be his Agriculture secretary. The co-founder and leader of the Trump-allied America First Policy Institute think tank served as acting director of the Domestic Policy Council in his first term and is close to Trump, but she has little formal agriculture policy experience.

Nevertheless, Rollins is expected to be confirmed and has begun meeting with Senators on Capitol Hill.

“We want Ms. Rollins … to be successful,” Vilsack said Friday, pointing to the Agriculture secretary’s vast responsibilities at USDA, which employs roughly 100,000 people and oversees massive federal nutrition programs, disease prevention systems and food safety.

Specifically, he noted that the department is currently dealing with a spreading outbreak of H5N1 strain of the bird flu virus, and the rising risk of screw worm, a disease that can be fatal to cattle, crossing into the U.S. from Mexico.

“This is a big job,” said Vilsack. She has a “very important asset,” he added, in her relationship with Trump.

It’s especially important, Vilsack added, given Trump’s nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Department of Health and Human Services. Kennedy, a high-profile critic of the food system, has made clear he wants to expand his influence over agriculture and food policy, as well.

Vilsack also told reporters Friday someone from Trump’s landing team for the Agriculture Department arrived Thursday to begin working on the hand-off, noting that it was a “landing person” instead of a full team. He declined to name the person.

Modern presidential transitions have typically designated landing teams for each agency before the election and deploy them shortly after the election results are called. But the Trump transition delayed for months in signing an agreement with the Biden administration to authorize those teams, before finally reaching a deal just before Thanksgiving. And they now have just over a month to coordinate with agency staff on the transfer of power before Trump enters office.

The sidelines at Saturday’s Army-Navy match-up might just be more compelling than the game.

Donald Trump is back. The president-elect will partake in the nation’s storied rivalry between West Point and Annapolis, saluting U.S. troops as he enters the White House again. But Saturday’s game will focus just as much on political intrigue as football and tradition — and for Trump, it won’t be the first time.

Pete Hegseth, Trump’s pick for Defense secretary and a former Army major, will attend. But so will Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a former Navy lawyer who will join Trump at the game following reports DeSantis was, at least briefly, under consideration toreplace Hegseth.

It’s a true Army-Navy match-up.

This will mark Trump’s fifth appearance at the game, having previously attended as president-elect in 2016 and as president in 2018, 2019, and 2020.

Trump and DeSantis, who battled each other in a fierce GOP primary rivalry, have since reconciled. The Florida governor supported Trump during the general election.

Now Trump is reportedly urging DeSantis to appoint his daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, to fill Marco Rubio’s Senate seat if the Florida senator is confirmed as secretary of State. Their appearance together Saturday will fuel questions about the alliance and whether the role of the Defense secretary is part of the bargain.

Trump first blended military camaraderie with political strategy under the bright lights in 2016. He spent the first half of the game in the box of David Urban, a West Point graduate and Republican adviser, and the second half with retired Marine Lt. Col. Oliver North, a graduate of Annapolis.

Urban, a Pennsylvania power broker dubbed part of the “West Point Mafia,” played a pivotal role in securing nominations for figures such as Mark Esper for Defense secretary, Mike Pompeo for secretary of State and Kenneth Braithwaite for Navy secretary. Esper and another major defense official spotted in Trump’s box that year, Gen. Mark Milley, have since had high-profile breaks with him.

Trump has a history of making news at the match. He used a tweet in 2018 to announce that Milley, who was then the Army chief of staff, would replace Joint Chiefs Chair Gen. Joseph Dunford — who still had nearly 10 months left in his term.

Then-Navy Secretary Richard Spencer also told Trump at the game that he should get fired if he couldn’t fix problems building the USS Gerald Ford. He was later fired.

And the following year in the locker room, Trump announced a controversial policy change that allowed military academy athletes with professional potential to play pro sports after graduation and defer their active-duty service.

It’s a reminder that in Trump’s game, just like in football, today’s teammate might be tomorrow’s opponent.

Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi suffered an injury and was hospitalized for treatment while traveling in Luxembourg to the 80th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge, according to spokesperson Ian Krager.

In a statement, Krager said she “sustained an injury during an official engagement and was admitted to the hospital for evaluation.”

The California Democrat, her spokesperson said, is “receiving excellent treatment from doctors and medical professionals” and “continues to work and regrets that she is unable to attend the remainder of the CODEL engagements to honor the courage of our servicemembers during one of the greatest acts of American heroism in our nation’s history.”

Pelosi stepped aside as House Democratic leader in 2023 after Republicans regained control of the House, but she retains great influence within the conference. She served two stints as speaker of the House and is widely considered one of the most effective vote counter in modern congressional history.

Pelosi, 84, just won reelection to another term to her San Francisco-anchored House seat in November by a wide margin.

Here’s what we’re watching in transition world today:

 🗓️ What we’re watching

• President-elect Donald Trump said he’s open to getting rid of vaccines depending on Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s review of their safety. Public health and medical experts have heralded widespread vaccinations as lifesaving for a huge number of Americans.
• The head of the Federal Aviation Administration is resigning in January, which will leave another open spot for Trump to fill. 
• Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, donated $1 million to the president-elect’s inaugural fund, the company confirmed to POLITICO on Thursday. Jeff Bezos is also donating $1 million, according to the Wall Street Journal.
• The Chamber of Commerce’s new top lobbyist, former Rep. Rodney Davis, joins Playbook Deep Dive to discuss the Chamber’s approach to Trump 2.0. 

👀 What’s Trump up to?

• He’ll be at the Army vs. Navy football game tomorrow. 
• Trump is having dinner on Sunday with Akie Abie, the widow of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, per CNN’s Kaitlan Collins reports. 

🚨What’s up with the nominees?

• Trump’s embattled pick to lead the Pentagon, Pete Hegseth, has changed his tone in recent days, in particular on women in combat and LGBTQ+ people serving in the military. His evolving rhetoric — which came after meetings with more moderate senators — signals an effort to soothe lingering concerns his leadership might cause upheaval to a diverse, modern military.

Speaker Mike Johnson is taking a hands off approach as he finally puts his stamp on the House Republicans who will shape his conference’s policy ambitions — a break from his predecessors that has some lawmakers struggling to intuit his preferences.

On Thursday, the Republican Steering Committee finished selecting committee chairs for next year, minus the few who Johnson gets to pick unilaterally. It was his first time driving the selection process for panel leaders, which involves the Steering panel recommending chairs who are typically approved by a full conference vote. His allies have privately kvetched over the past year that he was being forced to operate in a Kevin McCarthy-organized House.

Unlike McCarthy, Johnson did not indicate who he would back to lead the panels ahead of time, pledging that he would stay neutral.

“[With] McCarthy you had a pretty good idea of where he was going and who he liked in the race, and I think maybe some people expected this speaker to do the same,” said Rep. David Joyce (R-Ohio), a member of the Steering Committee. “People are inferring things — that he’s tipping the scale — but Mike’s been very straightforward.”

Lawmakers still tried to read into Johnson’s actions and defer to the speaker. That was particularly true during Rep. Brian Mast’s (R-Fla.) presentation to lead the Foreign Affairs Committee on Monday, when he won an upset victory over Rep. Ann Wagner (R-Mo.), according to two people in the room at the time.

A series of rumors flurried about how Mast won, including false claims that Donald Trump was calling every Steering member to lobby for him, though nearly a dozen lawmakers on the committee said they had not heard from the president-elect. Some lawmakers claimed the Florida delegation lobbied hard for him, saying no one from their state would win a gavel otherwise (multiple Sunshine State lawmakers are headed for prominent spots in the Trump administration). Others said Mast’s presentation was so strong it swayed Steering members to his side.

And some claimed the reason was simpler: Johnson made an offhand remark that hinted he was backing Mast. So a race between four competitors was decided quickly, on the first round of ballots, according to three people familiar with the meeting, granted anonymity to share private details.

Then there was the case of Rep. Sam Graves (R-Mo.) seeking a waiver to continue leading the Transportation Committee, House Republicans had several theories as to why Steering granted a request they typically deny. Some believed Graves would resign if he didn’t get the waiver, potentially crippling Republicans’ ability to pass ambitious legislative priorities in the early months of next year. Others thought he received support from other chairs on the panel who may want a waiver for themselves down the line.

But some people familiar with the Steering meeting noted that Johnson made an innocuous comment that might’ve tipped the scales in that case, too. The speaker said something like: it seemed they were all in agreement and asked to move forward with a voice vote. No one wanted to vote against him — at least not openly.

The ultimate outcome of the contested chair elections was largely a mixed bag for different factions of the conference. Mast is an ardent Trump supporter, who already has strong existing relationships with Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), who Trump intends to nominate to be secretary of State; Rep. Mike Waltz (R-Fla.), who will be Trump’s national security adviser; and Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.), who oversees State Department funding on the Appropriations Committee.

Then there’s Rep. Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.), who was selected to lead the Energy and Commerce Committee, an amiable Kentucky Republican who’s known as a team player and avid fundraiser. Two Steering members said it just came down to Guthrie running a stronger race. And Rep. French Hill (R-Ark.), who secured the Financial Services gavel, was once an ardent McCarthy ally who notably voted “present” during an internal roll call vote when Johnson ran for speaker.

Some members of the panel said Johnson’s hands-off approach coupled with the influx of new Steering members — roughly a third of the panel’s membership is new — made for a true meritocracy this time around.

“What I’m sensing in there: You’ve got a new Steering Committee. They are not held to the old ideas and rules. … You haven’t sensed the speaker having his thumb on the scale. I’m sure he has his preferences, but I don’t see that he has communicated that. And I think it’s a meritocracy at this point,” said Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-Ga.), a member of the panel.