Scoop: Some Freedom Caucus members want Brandon Gill out

A small group of Rep. Brandon Gill's fellow House Freedom Caucus members are privately questioning whether he still belongs in the hardline group, Axios has learned. Why it matters: The 32-year-old Texas freshman's rapid rise through House Republican ranks has transformed him into one of the party's most prominent young stars — and earned him a growing list of critics. Driving the news: Multiple House Republicans told Axios that Gill is the future of their party, but several Freedom Caucus members told Axios that his engagement with the group has faded as his national profile has grown. The lawmakers spoke on condition of anonymity to offer candid assessments of a colleague. "He's not really in the Freedom Caucus. He's just using it for conservative bonafides," one HFC member told Axios. The Freedom Caucus is "livid" at Gill, another member told Axios. The intrigue : Four sources familiar with the conversations said members have privately discussed kicking Gill out, though the conversations have been informal and the issue has not been raised at a HFC meeting. It's unclear if there would be enough support within the group to boot Gill if there ever was a formal vote. The other side: "Congressman Gill is laser-focused on getting out the vote and ensuring Republicans hold the majority this November," a spokesperson for Gill told Axios in a statement. State of play: Gill has become a favorite in President Trump's orbit, has won praise from GOP leadership and has launched an ambitious bid to head one of the House's most powerful committees. Asked about the criticism from Gill's colleagues, Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) flatly told Axios in an interview earlier this month that Gill "needs to be out front. I don't care where it is," adding, "Brandon is the future of our party, and his communication skills are phenomenal." But his ascent has fueled resentment, with colleagues accusing him of burning bridges and treating fellow Republicans as stepping stones to greater