Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), has announced his impending retirement from Congress, scheduled for the end of this year. The news was conveyed through an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal, where McCarthy expressed his plans to “serve America in new ways”. The news comes as his 10-month tenure, which was punctuated by his historic ousting by his own party, comes to a close.

During his time in Congress, McCarthy helped guide the Republican Party to a majority in the House—twice—and boosted the representation of women, veterans, and minorities within the party, an achievement he shared in the op-ed.

However, despite these accomplishments, his departure leaves the House GOP with a significant gap, with the end of his term only weeks away. His sudden departure is scheduled for the end of this year, with the exact date specified as the end of this month. As his congressional career ends, McCarthy’s future role within government remains to be seen, but his determination to continue to serve his country is clear.