Consultant Gerald E. Connolly of Virginia, an eight-term Democrat, introduced on Monday that he wouldn’t search re-election and would quickly relinquish his place as the highest Democrat on the Home oversight committee, as he faces most cancers.
Mr. Connolly, 75, introduced late final yr that he was being handled for most cancers of the esophagus however deliberate to struggle the illness whereas persevering with to do his job in Washington, saying he was “very assured of a profitable consequence.”
In a letter to his constituents on Monday, he mentioned that the illness, “whereas initially crushed again, has now returned,” prompting his choice to step apart and finally retire. Mr. Connolly mentioned he deliberate to do “every thing potential” to complete out what he mentioned could be his ultimate time period.
“I might be stepping again as rating member of the Oversight Committee quickly,” he wrote. “With no rancor and a full coronary heart, I transfer into this ultimate chapter filled with pleasure in what we’ve achieved collectively over 30 years.”
Mr. Connolly’s announcement didn’t clarify when he could hand over his place, and a spokesman didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark. The Committee on Oversight and Authorities Reform is scheduled to carry an important listening to on Wednesday about its portion of Republicans’ tax and spending program, which incorporates adjustments to federal staff’ advantages and offers them the choice to surrender civil service protections to earn more money.
Mr. Connolly’s choice will clear the best way for a brand new senior Democrat on probably the most partisan committees in Congress, which lawmakers sometimes use to antagonize the White Home and train their test on govt energy.
Republicans at present management the committee and its subpoena energy. With Consultant James Comer of Kentucky, an in depth Trump ally, as chairman, the committee has largely targeted on reopening outdated investigations of the Biden administration.
The committee additionally has jurisdiction over the Division of Authorities Effectivity, the White Home initiative led by Elon Musk to considerably remake the federal authorities and reduce its work drive. Consultant Marjorie Taylor Greene, the firebrand Georgia Republican, leads the panel on that effort and has used her perch to echo Mr. Musk’s claims about authorities waste.
However Mr. Connolly’s successor is not going to be with out energy. The rating member oversees a big workers and might name for investigations and minority hearings to highlight problems with concern. The place can be a precious platform for lawmakers, and Mr. Connolly’s alternative could be in a main place to steer the committee if Democrats retake the Home majority in 2026.
Mr. Connolly, whose district features a substantial variety of federal employees effected by Mr. Musk’s efforts, received an inner battle for the position final yr over Consultant Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York. His victory was seen as a blow to a youthful group of Democratic lawmakers who’ve rejected seniority in favor of generational change.
Although a number of different veteran leaders stepped apart or had been crushed by challenges from youthful colleagues, Mr. Connolly, a extra reasonable Democrat, was chosen due to his expertise.
Ms. Ocasio-Cortez is not a member of the Oversight panel, which might complicate any effort she would possibly undertake to win the place had been she to attempt to take action.
Consultant Eleanor Holmes Norton, 87, the nonvoting delegate from the District of Columbia, didn’t elevate her hand for the position final yr regardless of her seniority on the committee.
