House Speaker Mike Johnson is facing a new challenge as hard-right Republicans, emboldened by former President Donald Trump, push to impeach federal judges who have ruled against Trump’s policies. The effort, which has virtually no chance of success given the high bar for conviction in the Senate, is nonetheless creating a major distraction for GOP leaders as they work to advance Trump’s domestic policy agenda.
The latest target is U.S. District Judge James Boasberg, who ordered the grounding of deportation flights. Trump took to social media Tuesday to demand Boasberg’s impeachment, prompting Rep. Brandon Gill (R-Texas) to file a resolution calling for the judge’s removal. Gill accused Boasberg of prioritizing “political gain over the duty of impartiality owed to the public.”
Boasberg, an Obama appointee, is the fourth federal judge this year to face impeachment efforts from congressional Republicans after ruling against the Trump administration. However, his case is the first to receive direct backing from Trump, raising the political stakes for Johnson and his leadership team.
Publicly, GOP leaders are keeping their options open. House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), whose committee would oversee impeachment proceedings, said through a spokesperson that “everything is on the table.” A spokesperson for Johnson echoed similar sentiments, stating that judges “with political agendas pose a significant threat” and that the speaker looks forward to working with the Judiciary Committee to address the issue.
Privately, however, there is concern within Johnson’s circle about the potential fallout from pursuing impeachment. The process is time-consuming and resource-intensive, and with the GOP’s slim House majority, the effort could backfire politically. Impeaching judges is also highly unusual and risks alienating moderate Republicans and independents who view the move as an overreach.
The push to impeach judges reflects the growing influence of Trump and his allies within the GOP, who are eager to challenge perceived enemies of the former president. But for Johnson, the effort complicates his efforts to unify the party and focus on advancing Trump’s policy priorities.
As the impeachment push gains traction among hard-right members, Johnson faces a delicate balancing act: appeasing Trump’s base while avoiding a protracted and divisive battle that could undermine the GOP’s broader agenda.
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