Johnson Signals a Shift
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said Wednesday he now supports efforts to impeach federal judges who block President Donald Trump’s policy agenda. While he previously called impeachment “an extreme measure,” he added that extreme times require extreme actions.
“I think some judges have gone far outside their authority. Therefore, Congress needs to step in,” Johnson told reporters during his weekly briefing.
Targets Include Boasberg and Boardman
The move focuses on U.S. District Judges James Boasberg and Deborah Boardman. For example, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, called them “rogue judges” and argued that they meet the constitutional standard for impeachment.
Johnson agreed. “Boasberg is one who’s been mentioned. These are egregious abuses,” he said.
Additionally, Boasberg drew criticism for rulings on Trump-era immigration cases. He allowed the relocation of migrants rather than detaining them in the U.S. Furthermore, he approved warrants to seize phone records of some Republican lawmakers during the Arctic Frost probe.
Boardman faced backlash for sentencing a man convicted in the attempted assassination of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh. Cruz claimed the 97-month sentence and lifetime supervised release fell below federal guidelines.
Impeachment Historically Rare
However, impeachment is rarely used. Johnson previously said it was impractical. Only 15 federal judges have ever been removed in U.S. history. “The bar is high,” he explained in May 2025. “It requires clear high crimes or misdemeanors.”
Now, Johnson argues impeachment should not be off the table when judges exceed their authority. Last year, House Republicans passed a bill from Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., aiming to limit judges’ ability to issue nationwide injunctions.
Looking Ahead
Johnson emphasized that Congress must hold judges accountable. “These actions may seem extreme, but they’re necessary to maintain the balance of powers,” he said.
