Brian J. Mast
RepublicanU.S. Representative, FL-21| Age | 45 (b. 1980-07-10) |
| Gender | Male |
| In office since | 2017-01-03 (~9 yrs) |
| Race / ethnicity | White; of partial Mexican descent (maternal grandparents were immigrants from Mexico) |
| Religion | Evangelical Christian (attended Calvary Chapel) |
| Education | Graduated South Christian High School (1999); attended Palm Beach Atlantic University and American Military University; earned a Bachelor of Liberal Arts in extension studies (concentration in economics, minors in government and environmental studies) from Harvard Extension School in 2016. |
| Prior occupation | U.S. Army explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) specialist; after the Army worked in counter-terrorism/national defense, including as an explosives specialist with the Department of Homeland Security, with the National Nuclear Security Administration, and as an instructor for the ATF |
| Military service | Yes: United States Army (Staff Sergeant) |
| Birthplace | Grand Rapids, Michigan |
| Marital status | Married — Brianna Mast (née Watkins) |
| Children | 4 |
| Residence | Palm City, Florida |
Pending research: languages · notable relatives · openly lgbtq.
Career & politics
| First elected | 2016 |
| Previous offices | U.S. Representative for Florida's 18th congressional district (2017-2023) |
| Committees | Committee on Foreign Affairs (Chair) · Committee on Foreign Affairs - Subcommittee on the Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia · Committee on Foreign Affairs - Subcommittee on Oversight and Accountability · Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure · Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure - Subcommittee on Aviation · Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure - Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation · Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure - Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment |
| Caucuses | Congressional Cannabis Caucus (co-chair) · Rare Disease Caucus · Republican Main Street Partnership · Climate Solutions Caucus |
| Leadership | Chair, House Committee on Foreign Affairs (since January 3, 2025) |
| Ideology | Republican; voted with President Trump's position roughly 90.6% of the time during his first presidency. Generally conservative with some moderate/bipartisan positions (e.g., supports an assault weapons ban and federal cannabis reform). |
Financial
Net worth: disclosed $84,007–$260,000 (2016) · estimate
No holdings recorded yet (from official Financial Disclosure filings).
Top donors: Retired (individual contributions, top contributor category) ($818,970 (career, OpenSecrets)) · American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) ($197,661 (career, OpenSecrets))
Top industries: Retired · Pro-Israel
Scandals & crimes ledger
resolved — $500 House mask-mandate fine upheld by House Committee on Ethics
In May 2021, Representative Brian Mast was assessed a $500 fine under the U.S. House floor mask mandate after declining to wear a mask on the House floor. Mast formally appealed the fine to the House Committee on Ethics on May 24, 2021, contending he was fully vaccinated and citing updated CDC guidance. The evenly split bipartisan committee did not muster the majority needed to grant the appeal, so it was effectively denied and the fine upheld. Mast publicly criticized the committee. The fine constitutes a formal action by an official body of the House.