A contingent of far-right House Republicans are plotting an attempt to remove Kevin McCarthy as House speaker as early as next week, a move that would throw the chamber into further disarray in the middle of a potential government shutdown, according to four people familiar with the effort who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss private talks.

Members of the far-right faction of the party are coalescing around nominating a member of McCarthy's leadership team, Rep. Tom Emmer (Minn.), to be the next speaker if they can successfully oust McCarthy, according to those people. The members think Emmer is more attuned to their concerns and will better deliver conservative results.

The effort to replace McCarthy with one of his top deputies is the latest example of the acrimony and chaos that has upended the Republican conference this year and has Congress on the path to a government shutdown. Many within the GOP conference, including McCarthy allies, have long warned that McCarthy's leadership would be tested during the fight to fund the government because of promises he made to far-right lawmakers in January to win the speaker's gavel.

Emmer, according to two people who have spoken to him, has not indicated whether he would want to pursue the speakership or support a measure to oust McCarthy.

"I fully support Speaker McCarthy. He knows that and I know that," Emmer told The Washington Post in a statement. "I have zero interest in palace intrigue. End of discussion." (Yeah I believe that.)