McCarthy has publicly stated that he wants to remove Schiff and Swalwell from the panel, arguing that Schiff has "lied to the American public" and that Swalwell's past connection to a suspected Chinese spy makes him a security liability.

"I appreciate the loyalty you have to your Democrat colleagues, and I acknowledge your efforts to have two Members of Congress reinstated to the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence," McCarthy wrote in a letter to Jeffries he shared on Twitter. 

"But 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."

"As such, in order to maintain a standard worthy of this committee's responsibilities, I am hereby rejecting the appointments of Representative Adam Schiff and Representative Eric Swalwell to serve on the Intelligence Committee," he continued.