Overview
- The California lawmaker was taken off his Education, Judiciary and Transportation panels on Wednesday after announcing plans to register as an independent.
- House Majority Leader Steve Scalise called the change a temporary, rules-driven action and said Republicans could consider reinstating him.
- Kiley said he will continue to caucus with House Republicans and expressed confidence he will be reappointed to his previous committee roles.
- With his switch, Kiley became the only independent in the House, while the Senate has two independents who caucus with Democrats.
- House clerks cited Rule X, clause 5(b)(1), which automatically vacates committee assignments when a member leaves a party, and Kiley was first elected in 2022 to California’s 3rd District.