Report: McConnell Considering Appropriations Chairmanship Next

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is set to leave his position in January, but there are talks of him possibly chairing the Senate Appropriations Committee if the Republicans gain the majority, sources close to the party’s leadership revealed.

While no final decisions have been made, this move would allow the 82-year-old Kentucky Republican to continue wielding significant influence over government funding until his term ends in 2027, according to a report from Axios.

There is precedence for McConnell assuming the chairmanship of the Appropriations Committee, as the late Sen. Robert Byrd, D-W.Va., also held this position after serving as both majority and minority leader.

However, Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, a longtime ally of McConnell’s, currently serves as the vice chair of the Appropriations Committee, making her a potential candidate for the top spot should the Republicans win the Senate.

Anne Clark, Collins’ communications director, stated that the senator expects to either chair or be the vice chair of the Appropriations Committee.

Yet, she acknowledged that McConnell has the authority to make his own decisions based on his seniority.

McConnell’s office declined to comment on his future plans, only noting that he is focused on finishing the current session and helping Senate Republicans regain the majority.

Despite the upcoming transition in leadership, McConnell has been actively opposing Republican isolationists, recently working to pass a $95 billion foreign aid package for Ukraine, Israel, Gaza, and the Indo-Pacific region.