Following the unprecedented removal of Kevin McCarthy from the speakership last year, House Republicans are taking steps to make such an event less likely in the future. A proposed change to House rules would significantly increase the difficulty of ousting a sitting speaker.

Current Speaker Mike Johnson and former Speaker Kevin McCarthy. (Getty Images)

Currently, a single House member can initiate a motion to vacate the speakership, forcing a vote on the House floor. This procedure was used to remove McCarthy in 2023 after Republican Representative Matt Gaetz introduced the motion. The resulting leadership vacuum lasted for two months, prompting concerns about the vulnerability of the speakership.

The proposed rule change would require a member to gather support from eight colleagues within the majority party before introducing a motion to vacate. This means that for the next two years, only Republican members could initiate such a motion. The change aims to enhance the stability of House leadership and prevent future disruptions.

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson at a news conference. (Kent Nishimura)

The proposed rules package, unveiled on Wednesday, is expected to be voted on after the election of a new speaker and the convening of the 119th Congress. The initial speaker vote is scheduled for this Friday. Current Speaker Mike Johnson is seeking re-election, but faces at least one dissenting voice within the GOP. However, Johnson recently received a strong endorsement from President-elect Donald Trump.

Former Rep. Kevin McCarthy. (Valerie Plesch/Getty Images)

Democratic Representative Jim McGovern criticized the proposed rule, arguing that it would shield the speaker from accountability. He expressed concern that the change would empower the Republican majority to push through extremist policies without proper oversight.

Rep. Jim McGovern. (Tom Williams)