WASHINGTON – President-elect Donald Trump has found a particular preference for selecting his Cabinet members from the U.S. House.

This has triggered a rush among House Republicans, who are expected to have only a very slim majority in 2025. Currently, they hold 218 seats – the minimum required for control – with a few remaining races still undecided.

Trump’s appointment of Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) as ambassador to the United Nations, Rep. Mike Waltz (R-Fla.) as national security adviser, and Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) as attorney general has left a three-seat vacancy that could jeopardize the GOP’s majority.

“It’s a great challenge to have; we are fortunate to have so many talented individuals in our House Republican conference,” House Speaker Mike Johnson shared with Fox News on Thursday. “However, I’ve informed President Trump that ‘that’s enough; I need some support to maintain this majority.’ He gets it.”

Johnson emphasized that he is in constant communication with the president-elect and is not worried about Trump’s nominations leading to a Democratic takeover of Congress. “I believe we’ll have solid control… we’ll retain our majority,” he said.

Following Trump’s announcement of Gaetz’s nomination on Wednesday, Gaetz unexpectedly resigned from Congress, prompting Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to call for a special election to fill his position.

Johnson mentioned that he reached out to DeSantis on Wednesday to “kickstart the process,” estimating it would take around eight weeks to fill Gaetz’s seat, with hopes to have it filled by the next session starting on January 3, 2025.

DeSantis is also expected to appoint someone to replace Waltz when he vacates his seat. Meanwhile, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has up to 80 days to orchestrate a special election to fill Stefanik’s seat after her departure.

All three of Trump’s selections are from solidly Republican districts, making it likely that another GOP representative will fill their vacated positions, providing some reassurance to party members.

“If a nominee risks jeopardizing the majority, he will withdraw it,” stated Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla., who chairs the House Appropriations Committee.

The small majority currently held by Republicans, where any unexpected absence from illness, deaths, or retirements could impact their governance, will likely repeat in the coming years. “It is what it is,” Cole remarked when asked about the potential risks to the health and well-being of his colleagues, considering the close margins. “You can’t dwell on that.”

The issue isn’t new for House Republicans, who currently have a majority of just 220 seats, leaving them a four-seat buffer to stay in control.

This slender majority has caused challenges for Republicans over the past two years. When Democrats unite in opposition, a small faction of GOP members can easily disrupt policy agreements or instigate significant changes, such as the removal of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy in October 2023.

“Clearly, we will continue to have a very slim majority, as we’ve experienced in this Congress,” said Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., who represents a moderate district in the New York City suburbs. “We must collaborate and resolve these issues. It’s going to be very tight on party-line votes.”

This time, however, the House’s efficiency could determine whether conservative policies are enacted or get stuck in legislative gridlock.

House Republicans are aware of this reality and plan to establish rules changes aimed at preventing any disruption by individual members, although these changes still need official approval in January.

“We faced this issue last year,” remarked Rep. Troy Nehls, R-Wisc., a member of the House Freedom Caucus. “With our new leader in place and a unified government, I believe everyone recognizes that Donald Trump is the president, and we are going to align accordingly.”