SCIF SCUFFLE — The impacts of the House's speaker fight are quickly trickling down and on Wednesday national security lawmakers turned up the heat, warning that oversight of military and intelligence are being impacted by the delay. Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.) was barred from a secure facility in the House on Wednesday for a scheduled meeting with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley to talk about security in the Indo-Pacific region. Authorized personnel only: "I'm informed by House security that, technically, I don't have a clearance," Gallagher said at a press conference of GOP military veterans. "I'm a member of the Intel Committee, I'm on the Armed Services Committee, and I can't meet in the SCIF to conduct essential business." But technically, Gallagher hasn't been sworn in for the 118th Congress. So he's still a member-elect and not a member of any committee until they organize and he is appointed to the panels. "My point is we have work to do that we can't do right now," he added. Rep. Brad Wenstrup (R-Ohio) lamented that lawmakers focused on national security issues have been hamstrung by the limbo of the House not having a speaker or swearing in members. They "don't have access to anything," said Wenstrup. "The secure facility that we work in every day when we're here, we can't go in there right now...We're in there all the time. And right now, we can't be in there at all." Members don't need to hold a security clearance to see sensitive information – they are granted access based on their position as members of Congress. But until they're sworn in, they're not members of Congress – so no access to sensitive info. Gang of 4? Before members are sworn in they can't even receive briefings on sensitive information. That has raised concerns that the Senate alone would be looped in during a crisis. But a staffer close to the situation clarified to Huddle that in the case of an emergency or urgent military or intelligence situation, the executive branch could reach out to a member and provide relevant info, because they control the clearance and material information. Gallagher's team confirmed that he and Milley did not connect Wednesday after Gallagher was denied SCIF access, but they said plans to reschedule are underway. REVIEW SESSION: CONGRESS 101 — Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.) said Wednesday that he, along with fiscal conservatives, want McCarthy to make a deal on the debt limit. "Is he willing to shut the government down rather than raise the debt ceiling? That's a non-negotiable item," Norman said. But those things are not tied together the way Norman implies. Refusing to raise the debt limit and defaulting on the nation's debt would trigger a total economic crisis and lead to the downgrade of the country's credit rating and drive up interest rates for all Americans. The U.S. has never defaulted on its debt. Refusing to raise the debt ceiling would not shut down the government. Failing to pass federal spending bills triggers that, which Norman knows since he served during the longest government shutdown in history in Dec. 2018 and Jan. 2019. When Huddle followed up with Norman, he cited his opposition to McCarthy holding the speakership as rooted in his long record of voting in favor of appropriations bills (McCarthy voted against the recent $1.7 trillion omnibus.) He linked the spending bills backed by McCarthy to the growing national debt but didn't clarify his demand to shut down the government over the debt ceiling. CRACK OPEN A CAN OF FOLKSINESS — The Senator with the deepest commitment to his folksy reputation and wild metaphors is sticking around. Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) is officially passing on a bid for Louisiana governor. The Republican told supporters in a Wednesday email that "at this juncture, I just think I can help my state and my country more in the Senate." Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) considered a run, but made the decision late last year to stick with the Senate. Burgess has more on Kennedy's calculation. From Sam Karlin in Baton Rouge for The Advocate: John Kennedy opts out of governor's race, clearing field for several other Republicans BITING THE HAND THAT FEEDS — In the 2022 election cycle, political groups affiliated with McCarthy spent more than $1 million supporting GOP candidates who have now voted against him for speaker, according to Madison Fernandez' review of federal campaign finance records. Who didn't get McCarthy money: Reps. Andy Biggs (Ariz.), Lauren Boebert (Colo.), Matt Gaetz (Fla.), Paul Gosar (Ariz.), Mary Miller (Ill.) and Chip Roy (Texas) did not receive any cash from McCarthy's PAC in the last election cycle (but some have in past elections.) More from Madison. QUICK LINKS Representative Delia Ramirez Knows the Housing Struggle, by Claire Lampen at The Cut TRANSITIONS Jason Donner is now senior communications advisor for Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.). He was previously at Fox News. Tim Costa is now chief of staff to Dan Meuser (R-Pa.). Costa was previously a consultant with Buchanan Ingersoll Rooney. The Buffalo News: Langworthy names Jessica Proud as congressional chief of staff Yellowhammer News: Strong makes senior-level congressional staff appointments Danniyal Ahmed is now legislative director for Rep. Madeleine Dean (D-Pa.). He previously was Judiciary Committee counsel for Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.). Steve Dwyer is now senior director of innovation for the Office of the Chief Administrative Officer. He previously was senior adviser for Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.). Bob Holste is now chief of staff for Rep.-elect Kevin Kiley (R-Calif.). He previously was senior director of government relations at the Pew Charitable Trusts. Julie Tagen is moving to the House Oversight Committee to work for Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.). She has been his chief of staff since 2017. Shalini Avasarala has been promoted to Press Secretary in Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar's (D-Calif.) personal office. She was previously Deputy Press Secretary/Digital Director and is a Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.) alum. Elise Sugarman has been promoted to legislative director in Chairman Aguilar's personal office. She previously was senior legislative assistant and is a Rep. Bill Foster (D-Ill.) and Rep. Scott Peters (D-Calif.) alum. Kathryn Mitchell Thomas is now chief of staff for Rep. Emilia Sykes (D-Ohio). She most recently was chief of staff for former Rep. Jim Langevin (D-R.I.). Bowen Peard is now legislative director to Rep. Susie Lee (D-Nev.) and Henry Novak is communications director for Lee. Katherine Robbins is now comms director for Rep. Carol Miller (R-W.Va.). She previously was deputy press secretary for Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) and is a Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.) alum. TODAY IN CONGRESS The House convenes at noon. The Senate is out. AROUND THE HILL 10 a.m. Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) holds a press conference with Dem Whip Katherine Clark (D-Mass.) and Aguilar. (Studio A)
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