U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has officially denied Representatives Adam Schiff and Eric Swalwell seats on the House Intelligence Committee. McCarthy made the announcement at a media briefing on Tuesday, sparking heated debate among lawmakers.

During the briefing, McCarthy highlighted the need for a “fresh start” on the committee and accused the two Democrats of “partisan grandstanding”. He also accused them of “undermining the credibility of the committee”.

The move has been widely criticized by Democratic lawmakers, who argue that McCarthy is trying to silence two of the most vocal critics of President Trump. Republican Representative Spartz has also spoken out against McCarthy’s efforts, saying that he believes the decision was based on political motivations rather than merit.

Historians have pointed out that this is not the first time McCarthy has tried to remove Democrats from the House Intelligence Committee. In 2015, he attempted to remove Representative Nancy Pelosi from the committee, but was ultimately unsuccessful.

The decision has also been met with criticism from civil liberties groups, who argue that the move is a violation of the separation of powers and an attempt to limit the oversight of the executive branch.

The move has been widely condemned by many, but it remains to be seen what the full implications will be.