The Justice Department has begun gathering what it calls the most “egregious” examples of federal judges standing in the way of President Donald Trump’s policy priorities — a move that signals a sharper turn in the administration’s standoff with the courts.
According to officials, federal prosecutors across the country have been asked to flag rulings they view as overreach or obstruction. The aim: provide Congress with material it could use if lawmakers decide to pursue impeachment proceedings against members of the judiciary.
Under the U.S. Constitution, impeachment of a federal judge requires the House of Representatives to approve charges, followed by a Senate trial and a two-thirds vote to convict and remove. Republicans currently control Congress, placing any such effort within Trump’s party.
A spokesperson for the department framed the request as a response to what the administration sees as a wave of “judicial activism.” The statement accused certain judges of prioritizing public profile over impartiality and said the information collected would assist Congress in exercising its constitutional oversight powers.
The escalation comes amid mounting friction between the White House and segments of the federal bench. Several court decisions have slowed or blocked elements of Trump’s immigration crackdown and other central policies. Critics of the president argue that targeting judges risks weakening the balance of power between branches of government.
The department has previously lodged misconduct complaints against judges presiding over cases involving Trump’s initiatives. Those efforts were ultimately dismissed.
One prominent flashpoint has been Chief U.S. District Judge James Boasberg in Washington. Allies of the president introduced impeachment resolutions against him after he halted the administration’s attempt to invoke wartime authority to deport Venezuelan migrants. Another measure accused him of mishandling secrecy issues tied to a prior investigation involving Trump. Neither resolution has advanced.
Trump has publicly criticized Boasberg, once branding him “radical left.” The remarks prompted a rare intervention from Chief Justice John Roberts, who cautioned that impeachment is not a proper response to disagreement with judicial rulings. Despite that warning, the Supreme Court’s conservative majority has, in multiple emergency decisions over the past year, sided with the administration.
Historically, impeachment of federal judges has been rare. Only 15 have been impeached by the House, and just eight were convicted and removed by the Senate. Trump himself was impeached twice during his first term, but both efforts ended in acquittal after the Senate failed to reach the required supermajority.
Now, as tensions deepen, the Justice Department’s latest step places Congress squarely at the center of an intensifying struggle between the executive branch and the federal courts.
