On a Monday night call, a member of the Freedom Caucus brought up using a rule that would force a vote to remove the speaker, two sources familiar with the call said.
As dissatisfaction grows within the Republican Party over the debt ceiling deal negotiated between House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and President Joe Biden, some conservative members are contemplating a bold move to remove McCarthy from his leadership role. During a Monday night call with members of the House Freedom Caucus, Rep. Ken Buck, R-Colo., brought up the possibility of utilizing the “motion to vacate” rule, a procedural maneuver that allows any member of the House to force a vote on removing the speaker.
Buck referred to this rule as the “elephant in the room” during the call, signaling his belief that McCarthy’s position could be in jeopardy due to his handling of the debt ceiling issue. The “motion to vacate” is a powerful tool, one that could create a significant political crisis if it were to be pursued seriously. It was notably used by Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., in the past to challenge McCarthy’s speakership, highlighting the potential consequences for the speaker if conservative discontent intensifies.
Although some members, including House Freedom Caucus Chairman Scott Perry, R-Pa., felt it was premature to resort to such a drastic step, Rep. Paul Gosar, R-Ariz., proposed using the threat of a motion to vacate to force McCarthy into making concessions. Gosar suggested that McCarthy allow amendments to the debt limit bill directly on the House floor, under an “open rule” that would give members more power to influence the bill’s content. This tactic could slow down the bill’s passage and increase scrutiny of the deal, which has already faced criticism from multiple factions of the Republican Party.
Perry, while acknowledging the discontent with the debt ceiling agreement, emphasized that such threats could be counterproductive at this stage. He suggested that discussions about potentially using the motion to vacate would be postponed until after the long Memorial Day weekend, when members would return to Washington. The disagreement within the Freedom Caucus is indicative of the larger divisions within the Republican Party, where some members are dissatisfied with McCarthy’s approach to the deal, while others are more focused on ensuring a swift passage of the legislation.
The debt ceiling deal itself has sparked backlash from many conservative lawmakers, who argue that it fails to achieve the significant spending cuts they had hoped for. For McCarthy, this tension within his party represents a significant challenge to his leadership. His ability to keep his coalition intact is being tested, and the threat of losing the speakership looms as a reminder of the influence of far-right members in shaping the GOP agenda.
The move to oust McCarthy is not entirely unprecedented; the motion to vacate rule has been used in the past as a tool to challenge leadership in both the Republican and Democratic parties. However, its use remains a rare and contentious step, as it can lead to instability and disrupt the functioning of the House. McCarthy’s leadership has already been questioned several times during his tenure, particularly as he has sought to balance the interests of moderate Republicans and the more extreme factions within his party.
As tensions rise, McCarthy’s political future may hinge on his ability to navigate these internal divisions. The next few weeks will likely reveal whether the far-right faction of the GOP will push forward with their threats or whether McCarthy can regain their support. For now, the debate over the debt ceiling deal remains a central issue in Republican politics, and the speaker’s fate is closely tied to the outcome.