by House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has downplayed the possibility of impeaching federal judges who block President Donald Trump’s policies, signaling that House Republicans are not currently inclined to pursue such actions.
Earlier this year, the House passed a bill aimed at curbing the authority of federal district judges to issue nationwide injunctions, which Johnson described as a “silver bullet” in response to what conservatives see as overreach by activist judges. Despite acknowledging the importance of checks on the judiciary, Johnson emphasized the high barriers to impeachment efforts, noting that impeaching a judge requires significant support in both the House and Senate.
“Impeachments are never off the table if it’s merited,” Johnson stated. “But it’s a very high burden. Even if we could pass an impeachment article in the House, it’s unlikely to get a conviction in the Senate, given the current partisan divide.”
This comes amid growing tensions between the Trump administration and the judiciary over key policies, including deportation efforts and the Department of Government Efficiency’s operations. Republicans argue that some judicial rulings are politically motivated, while Democrats accuse the administration of undermining judicial independence.
Johnson also highlighted legislative measures as a solution, pointing to Representative Darrell Issa’s No Rogue Rulings Act, which would prevent a single judge from issuing nationwide injunctions. This bill, passed by the House, is now awaiting action in the Senate.
While some conservatives continue to push for impeachment, the Speaker warned that such efforts are politically risky and unlikely to succeed, especially with the current Senate composition. The Trump administration, for its part, maintains that it is complying with court orders while still criticizing what it views as overreach by certain judges.
As Republicans continue to battle with the courts, Speaker Johnson insists that his party has already done all it can to address these issues, pointing to legislative solutions as the way forward.
