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House Foreign Affairs Committee chairman Michael McCaul on Friday said that he would not seek a waiver that would allow him to continue leading the influential committee.

McCaul’s decision will end his six-year tenure as the committee’s leader, even as the United States faces growing threats from countries like Iran, Russia, and China. He has played a key role in advancing certain legislation amid a period of heightened tensions, including the TikTok ban and sanctions on Iran.

The congressman did not indicate what he hoped his next role would be, but he previously chaired the House Homeland Security committee before moving into foreign affairs.

“Out of respect for [conference] rules and a desire to see future leaders rise from our conference, I have decided not to pursue another term as chairman,” McCaul told Axios. “It has been a tremendous honor to serve as the chairman… I am beyond proud of everything we accomplished over the past six years.”

He continued, “I look forward to passing the torch to a new chair who will continue to build on the committee’s rich legacy and work to project ‘peace through strength’ around the world.”

The move has opened up a competitive race to succeed the chairman, and four members of Congress have already tossed their hats into the ring, including McCaul’s vice chair Ann Wagner. The congresswoman previously served as the ambassador to Luxembourg. 

“Mike was an incredible leader on the Foreign Affairs Committee and I am grateful to count him as a friend and mentor,” Wagner said, and praised McCaul’s efforts to “advocate for President Trump’s America First agenda and hold Joe Biden’s State Department accountable.”

The other people who are hoping to replace McCaul as the head of the committee include former House Oversight and Reform Chairman Darrell Issa, House Foreign Affairs subcommittee on Oversight Chairman Brian Mast, and senior House Foreign Affairs member and former Armed Services subcommittee Chairman Joe Wilson.

Misty Severi is an evening news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.