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House Speaker Kevin McCarthy on Tuesday night rejected the reappointments of Reps. Adam Schiff and Eric Swalwell, both D-Calif., to the powerful House Intelligence Committee -- fulfilling a promise McCarthy made even before he won the gavel.
The committee has special rules that allow the speaker to assign its members in consultation with the minority leader.
While the minority party's recommendations have typically been seated, McCarthy has the power to decline to seat members without relying on a full floor vote of the chamber.
In a letter sent to House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, McCarthy cast his decision as one of "integrity," suggesting that Schiff and Swalwell would weaken the committee on which they had served until January.
"I cannot put partisan loyalty ahead of national security, and I cannot simply recognize years of service as the sole criteria for membership on this essential committee. Integrity matters more," McCarthy wrote.