House Freedom Caucus Gears Up for Majority, Plans Orientation

The House Freedom Caucus will begin welcoming new members to Washington Wednesday evening for its own orientation focused on integrating prospective new members to a group that could soon become the most powerful bloc in Congress.

House Republicans are on track to hold a slim majority next year, meaning even a small group of members can hold immense sway over the agenda. The conservative Freedom’s Caucus signaled its plans to go on offense toward party leadership and secure legislative wins in the three-day schedule obtained by Bloomberg Government.

On Thursday, members can attend a session on House rules and “regular order” billed as “how the House consistently fails to live up to that ideal.” The session will also “outline proposed rule changes to restore a Member-driven process.”

Potential rule changes are set to be an early battleground for the Freedom Caucus to test its power against leadership. The Freedom Caucus already sent potential new members a 55-page “Road Map” to Congress laying out a handful of proposed rule changes, many which would reduce the power of party leaders. Rules governing the House Republican conference are set to be voted on Nov. 16.

Friday sessions include one titled “Roundtable on Working in the Swamp” that will discuss how “the establishment will attempt to co-opt new Members of Congress.” It will also offer “practical tips” on whip cards, dues to the House GOP campaign arm, and committee assignments.

Another session on forthcoming policy battles mentions the debt ceiling, National Defense Authorization Act and Farm Bill “and how to use these fights as leverage points to enact a conservative policy agenda.”

The House Freedom Caucus includes roughly 30-40 members, many who are far-right conservatives and ardent supports of former President Donald Trump. Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pa.) has chaired the committee since November 2021.

The three-day orientation begins Wednesday night with a welcome dinner at the Conservative Partnership Institute, an ally of the caucus. CPI senior partners include Mark Meadows, a Freedom Caucus co-founder and former chair. Meadows is no stranger to going head-to-head with leadership, being a key player in former Speaker John Boehner stepping down 2015. Meadows later was Trump’s White House chief of staff.

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All new members-elect, regardless of party, are invited to attend an orientation the House Administration Committee is organizing. The orientation begins Nov. 13-19, takes a break for the week of Thanksgiving, and then continues from Nov. 28 – Dec. 3.

To contact the reporter on this story: Emily Wilkins in Washington at ewilkins@bgov.com

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Angela Greiling Keane at agreilingkeane@bloombergindustry.com; Robin Meszoly at rmeszoly@bgov.com