House Freedom Caucus Members Consider Motion to Vacate the Chair to Express Disapproval of Budget Deal Struck by McCarthy and Biden

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) is facing criticism from members of the House Freedom Caucus over a budget deal he struck with President Joe Biden. On Monday night, Rep. Ken Buck (R-Colo.) floated the idea of using a motion to vacate the chair, a rule that would allow any member of Congress to force a vote to remove the speaker, during a House Freedom Caucus call.

Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pa.), the chairman of the group, suggested it might be too early for such a drastic threat. However, Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.) proposed using the threat to force McCarthy to allow members to amend the bill on the floor. Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) said Tuesday at a press conference with 10 other Freedom Caucus members that “no matter what happens, there’s going to be a reckoning about what just occurred.”

Bishop then told Politico that the so-called “motion to vacate the chair” is inescapable. The motion would allow any member of Congress to force a vote to remove the speaker, and could be used as a way to pressure McCarthy to allow members to amend the bill.

The budget deal struck by McCarthy and Biden has been met with criticism from Republicans, and the motion to vacate the chair is being seen as a way to express their disapproval. It remains to be seen if the motion will be used, and if so, what the outcome will be.