Republicans Face Backlash Over Lack of Women in House Committee Leadership Roles
Jose Luis Magana/AP
For the first time since the 114th Republican-led Congress, there may be no women leading House committees, Bloomberg Government reported. With Republicans naming their intended committee chairs, the lack of female representation has sparked disappointment and renewed calls for change.
The assignments, set to become official when all members are sworn in on Jan. 3, could still shift. However, making changes now would highlight concerns about diversity, equity, and inclusion within the party.
“It’s unfortunate,” said Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-N.Y.), currently an assistant whip and member of the Ways and Means Committee. “We’ve never been the party that was about checking boxes or identity politics, but the difference is we have women that are qualified to be chairs, and I don’t know why there wasn’t one who was able to become a chairperson of a committee.”
The only woman who sought a chair position was Rep. Ann Wagner (R-MO), who lost to Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL). In the current Congress, two women hold committee chair roles: Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), who is retiring, and Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC), who is term-limited.
Their departures exacerbate the gap in female leadership for the incoming Congress. Adding to the challenge, this Congress will see a notable gender disparity. For the first time in 46 years, fewer women will serve overall.
“Part of the challenge for women on the Republican side is that there just are not, frankly, enough women in the institution itself,” explained Debbie Walsh, director of the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University.
“They start further back when it comes to these leadership positions.” The report also tied the issue to cultural influences from the 2024 election cycle. Bloomberg noted that “President-elect Donald Trump embraced masculine culture, as epitomized by his courting of podcaster Joe Rogan, who has a fan base of younger men, and the appearance of professional wrestler Hulk Hogan at the Republican National Convention.”
Meanwhile, some of Trump’s cabinet picks face lingering scrutiny. “Trump’s Cabinet picks continue to be dogged by accusations of sexual misconduct, including his choice for defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, and former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), who withdrew from consideration for Attorney General,” Bloomberg reported.
With a growing focus on representation and gender diversity, Republicans face mounting criticism over the lack of women in leadership roles, a challenge that could have broader implications for the party’s image moving forward.
