Republicans have had enough of taking the back seat. They’re assuming control quick.
And now House Speaker Mike Johnson made a bold threat that left Democrats shaking in fear.
Congress Flexes Muscle Over Courts
House Speaker Mike Johnson dropped a bold reminder Tuesday: Congress holds sway over federal courts and isn’t afraid to wield it. Speaking at his weekly press conference, the Louisiana Republican pointed to a brewing clash between the White House and what he calls “activist judges” thwarting President Trump’s plans.
With tensions simmering, Johnson signaled that lawmakers are ready to step in—potentially even dismantling district courts if push comes to shove.
Johnson laid out the stakes plainly. “We do have authority over the federal courts. As you know, we can eliminate an entire district court,” he said. “We have power of funding over the courts and all these other things. But desperate times call for desperate measures, and Congress is going to act.”
It’s a striking stance, rooted in the Constitution, and one he tied to a “dangerous trend” of Democrat-appointed judges overstepping their bounds and muddying the separation of powers.
A Bill to Rein in Judicial Reach
At the heart of this push is the No Rogue Rulings Act, a bill from California Rep. Darrell Issa that’s gaining traction. Johnson said the House could vote on it as early as next week, framing it as a fix for judges who’ve been gumming up Trump’s agenda with sweeping rulings.
The legislation aims to clip the wings of single district judges issuing nationwide injunctions, limiting their impact to just the parties in a case rather than the whole country. It’s a practical tweak meant to keep judicial power in check.
The bill doesn’t stop there. For lawsuits brought by multiple states, it would mandate a three-judge panel—picked randomly—to weigh in, adding a layer of balance to high-stakes cases. Johnson sees it as a necessary counter to what he views as judicial overreach, and he’s betting on Congress’ authority to make it stick. Whether it passes, though, hinges on his slim House majority and the uphill climb of getting Senate approval.
Judges in the Crosshairs
The backdrop to Johnson’s warning is a string of district court injunctions stalling Trump’s executive moves, sparking frustration—and even impeachment talk—from the president and some House Republicans.
U.S. District Court Judge James Boasberg has emerged as a prime target, particularly after his Monday ruling challenging Trump’s deportation flights for Venezuelans tied to the Tren de Aragua gang.
Boasberg leaned on the 1798 Alien Enemies Act, insisting that those labeled wartime enemies deserve individual judicial reviews and proof of gang ties before deportation—a decision that’s fueled the fire.
Impeachment, though, is a tall order. Johnson’s razor-thin House edge and the Senate’s two-thirds threshold make it a long shot, even as the appetite grows among Trump’s allies. For now, Johnson’s passing the baton to the House Judiciary Committee, chaired by Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan.
The panel’s gearing up for a hearing to dig into whether judges are overreaching with rulings that seem to zero in on the president. “We’re working on that, we’re working on who’s going to come,” Jordan said when pressed on whether judges might testify, keeping plans fluid but the intent clear.
This tug-of-war between branches is heating up, with Johnson framing Congress as the guardian of its constitutional turf. The Issa bill and the Judiciary probe signal a readiness to act, but the path forward—be it legislative or impeachment—remains a tricky balancing act amid divided chambers and a charged political climate.
