A contentious proposal to impeach federal judges who blocked President Trump's agenda faces strong resistance from House Republican leaders.
According to Fox News, House Republicans are shifting their focus toward legislative solutions, specifically backing a bill by Rep. Darrell Issa that would restrict district court judges from issuing nationwide injunctions against Trump's policies.
House Speaker Mike Johnson signaled during Tuesday's closed-door Republican conference meeting that Issa's legislation offers a more effective approach to address concerns about activist judges. The bill is scheduled for a House floor vote next week, marking a significant pivot from impeachment discussions that have circulated among some conservative members.
House GOP Policy Conference Chair Kevin Hern expressed doubt about the viability of impeachment efforts, endorsing Issa's bill as the most practical solution. The legislation aims to curtail the scope of federal injunctions that have repeatedly halted Trump administration policies.
Johnson carefully avoided direct comments about impeachment during his weekly press conference. Instead, he emphasized the House Judiciary Committee's exploration of alternative measures to address judicial overreach.
The Speaker specifically praised Issa's No Rogue Rulings Act, describing it as a dramatic improvement to the current system. This legislative approach has garnered broader support within the Republican conference.
Several conservative representatives have introduced resolutions targeting specific judges, with Rep. Brandon Gill's effort to impeach U.S. District Judge James Boasberg receiving particular attention. Boasberg currently presides over a legal dispute with the Justice Department regarding Trump's deportation of suspected Tren De Aragua gang members.
Trump previously advocated for Boasberg's impeachment but has recently focused his support on Issa's legislative solution. The shift in strategy reflects a growing recognition among Republican leadership of the practical challenges facing impeachment efforts.
Gill told reporters he currently has no plans to force a vote through privileged resolution procedures. He expressed support for the current approach taken by Johnson and House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan.
Rep. Andy Ogles, who introduced his own impeachment resolution, offered a forceful defense of the impeachment strategy. He stated:
I think we should hold impeachment regardless of what the Senate does or doesn't do…we should do the people's work, which is impeach those bastards.
However, other Republicans have voiced skepticism about the feasibility of impeachment. One conservative lawmaker acknowledged:
It's kind of a futile exercise, because we don't have the votes in the Senate [to remove a judge]. It's more of a 'Hey, stay in your lane, you're not the president.' And I think if anything, let's put some pressure on the Supreme Court to take up one of these injunctions.
The House GOP's approach to challenging judicial decisions blocking Trump's agenda has evolved into a two-track strategy. While some members continue pushing for impeachment, leadership has coalesced around Issa's legislative solution to limit judicial authority.
The House Judiciary Committee will hold hearings next week examining activist judges, followed by a full House vote on Issa's bill. This measured approach reflects the practical limitations facing Republicans with their narrow majority and the high threshold required for successful impeachment.
