Republican Senate Committee Chairs — 119th Congress
The following Republican senators serve as chairs of the standing, select, and special committees of the United States Senate for the 119th Congress (2025\u20132027). Committee chairs are elected by the Republican conference at the beginning of each Congress and wield significant influence over the legislative agenda, hearings, and oversight within their committee\u2019s jurisdiction.
Standing Committees
| Committee | Chair | State |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry | John Boozman | AR |
| Appropriations | Susan Collins | ME |
| Armed Services | Roger Wicker | MS |
| Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs | Tim Scott | SC |
| Budget | Lindsey Graham | SC |
| Commerce, Science and Transportation | Ted Cruz | TX |
| Energy and Natural Resources | Mike Lee | UT |
| Environment and Public Works | Shelley Moore Capito | WV |
| Finance | Mike Crapo | ID |
| Foreign Relations | Jim Risch | ID |
| Health, Education, Labor and Pensions | Bill Cassidy | LA |
| Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs | Rand Paul | KY |
| Judiciary | Chuck Grassley | IA |
| Rules and Administration | Mitch McConnell | KY |
| Small Business and Entrepreneurship | Joni Ernst | IA |
| Veterans’ Affairs | Jerry Moran | KS |
Select and Special Committees
| Committee | Chair | State |
|---|---|---|
| Select Committee on Intelligence | Tom Cotton | AR |
| Special Committee on Aging | Rick Scott | FL |
| Select Committee on Ethics | James Lankford | OK |
| Committee on Indian Affairs | Lisa Murkowski | AK |
How Senate committee chairs are selected
Senate committee chairs are chosen by the majority party\u2019s conference through an internal election at the start of each new Congress. Under Republican conference rules, a senator may serve as chair of a standing committee for no more than three consecutive terms (six years), unless the full conference grants a waiver. Seniority on the committee is typically the dominant factor, though the conference retains the right to choose any eligible member.
The chair controls the committee\u2019s agenda, schedules hearings, manages the markup of legislation, and issues subpoenas for oversight investigations. When a new Congress convenes \u2014 or when a vacancy occurs mid-Congress due to resignation, death, or appointment to another position \u2014 the Republican conference may elect a new chair.
Committee jurisdiction overview
Each Senate committee has specific jurisdiction defined by the Senate\u2019s standing rules. The Finance Committee oversees taxation, trade, and entitlement programs like Social Security and Medicare. The Judiciary Committee handles federal courts, constitutional amendments, immigration law, and judicial nominations. The Armed Services Committee oversees the Department of Defense, military operations, and national security policy. The Appropriations Committee controls federal spending across all agencies through its 12 subcommittees.
Understanding which committee controls which policy area is essential for tracking how legislation moves through Congress. Bills are referred to the committee with jurisdiction over the subject matter, and the chair decides whether and when to hold hearings or advance the legislation.
Last verified: April 2, 2026. Sources: United States Senate (senate.gov), senate committee websites.