Representative Matt Gaetz, a Republican from Florida, filed a “motion to vacate the chair," beginning a process that could see House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, a Republican from California, ousted from his position.

Gaetz filed the motion to vacate after repeatedly vowing to make the move should McCarthy ally with Democrats to pass a spending resolution that would avoid a government shutdown. McCarthy did so on Saturday following a failure to pass legislation with solely Republican votes.

"I rise to give notice of my intent to raise a question of the privileges of the House," Gaetz announced during a Monday speech on the floor of the House of Representatives. “Declaring the office Speaker of the House of Representatives to be vacant. Resolved that the office of Speaker of the House Representatives is hereby declared to be vacant.”

The motion means the House has two days to vote on whether McCarthy will retain control of the gavel. Under new rules to which McCarthy agreed earlier this year following a contentious Speaker election, a single member of the House can force a vote to remove the Speaker. No previous motion to vacate the Speaker has ever been successful.

Following the motion, Gaetz told a group of reporters that he had gathered sufficient Republican votes to force McCarthy out or have him rely on Democrats to stay in power.

"I have enough Republicans where at this point next week, one of two things will happen: Kevin McCarthy won't be the Speaker of the House, or he'll be the Speaker of the House working at the pleasure of the Democrats,” he said. “And I'm at peace with either result because the American people deserve to know who governs them.”

In response, McCarthy posted “bring it on” to social media. Gaetz replied with his own post, declaring that he “just did."