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House Speaker Mike Johnson is leading the charge against what he calls “activist judges” who he says are undermining President Trump’s agenda and threatening America’s constitutional order. Johnson argues that liberal-appointed judges are abusing their power by blocking policies voters elected Trump to implement. He claims these judges have created a crisis by overstepping their role and acting like lawmakers instead of neutral arbiters.
Johnson’s solution centers on passing the , a bill by Rep. Darrell Issa that would stop federal judges from issuing nationwide injunctions. These injunctions—like those halting Trump’s deportation flights or military service policies—let a single judge freeze policies affecting all Americans. Johnson calls this a distortion of the Founding Fathers’ vision, where courts were never meant to wield such sweeping power.
The Speaker has also hinted at using Congress’s authority to defund or restructure courts that repeatedly clash with the administration. While impeachment has been floated by some conservatives, Johnson prefers focusing on legislation and oversight hearings. He stresses that Congress has constitutional tools to rein in judicial overreach without drastic measures.
Behind the scenes, Republicans are split on how far to go. Some, like Rep. Jim Jordan, back funding cuts to problematic courts. Others, like Sen. Josh Hawley, worry removing courts entirely would hurt efforts to appoint more conservative judges. Johnson is walking a tightrope—pushing bold reforms to satisfy the base while avoiding steps that could backfire politically.
President Trump’s team has praised Johnson’s approach, framing it as critical to restoring order. White House adviser Stephen Miller has accused judges of “judicial tyranny,” while Trump himself has railed against “radical left lunatic judges.” Johnson echoes this, noting that 67% of injunctions against presidential policies since 2000 targeted Trump, often from Democrat-appointed judges.
The House Judiciary Committee will hold hearings next week to highlight these issues. For now, Johnson’s message is clear: Congress must act decisively to protect the separation of powers and ensure the people’s will—as expressed through their president—is not thwarted by unelected judges.
