Vice President JD Vance recently issued a stern warning to what he describes as “rogue” federal judges, whom he believes are abusing their authority to impede President Donald Trump’s agenda as head of the Executive Branch. Vance’s criticisms come amid several court rulings that have blocked Trump’s initiatives, including attempts to end birthright citizenship, freeze federal grants, and reform various federal agencies like USAID and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
This past weekend, the administration faced another setback when a federal judge temporarily restricted Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from accessing the Treasury Department’s extensive federal payment system, which manages sensitive information about millions of Americans. Musk responded to the ruling by accusing the judge of corruption and calling for his immediate impeachment.
Vance has called attention to multiple judges he believes are overstepping their bounds. “If a judge tried to tell a general how to conduct a military operation, that would be illegal. If a judge tried to command the attorney general in how to use her discretion as a prosecutor, that’s also illegal,” Vance argued. He maintains that judges should not control the legitimate powers of the executive branch.
In response to questions about Vance’s remarks and the judicial setbacks his administration has faced, Trump expressed disappointment, stating, “When a president can’t look for fraud and waste and abuse, we don’t have a country anymore.” He labeled the ruling as disgraceful, asserting, “No judge should, frankly, be allowed to make that kind of a decision.”
The Republican Party remains united in supporting Trump. Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton criticized the judge for blocking DOGE’s access to Treasury data, calling him an “outlaw.” Rep. Jim Jordan, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, defended Musk’s actions on CNN, claiming Musk was “carrying out the will” of Trump.
House Republicans are reportedly preparing to introduce articles of impeachment against at least two federal judges who have blocked Trump’s efforts. This reflects a growing public clash between Republicans and the federal judiciary as Trump confronts obstacles to his “government efficiency” agenda. During a recent Oval Office news briefing with Musk, Trump suggested, “Maybe we have to look at the judges because I think that’s a very serious violation.”
Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-Ga.) is working on impeachment articles against U.S. District Court Judge John J. McConnell Jr., who ordered the administration to lift its federal spending freeze. Clyde labeled McConnell a “partisan activist weaponizing our judicial system.” Similarly, Rep. Eli Crane (R-Ariz.) plans to introduce articles of impeachment against U.S. District Judge Paul Engelmayer for blocking access to Treasury records.
For the impeachment actions to succeed, Clyde and Crane would need a majority in the House and a two-thirds majority in the Senate, presenting a significant challenge given the current makeup of Congress.
Judicial impeachments are rare and typically occur in cases of corruption, perjury, or serious misconduct. The last successful impeachment of a federal judge happened in 2010 for false financial disclosures. Constitutional law expert Michael Gerhardt noted to ABC News that Trump’s rhetoric primarily reflects “bravado,” as judges have the constitutional right to review the legality of presidential actions.