Feb 11, 2025 - Politics & Policy

Johnson: Courts should take a "step back"

Erin Doherty

U.S. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) delivers remarks following a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the U.S. Capitol on February 07, 2025 in Washington, DC. — Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-La.) delivers remarks at the U.S. Capitol on Feb. 7 in Washington, D.C. Photo: Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said Tuesday that the courts should take a "step back" from the challenges to Elon Musk and DOGE's efforts to transform the federal government and "allow these processes to play out."

Why it matters: Johnson said Tuesday that he "wholeheartedly" agrees with Vice President JD Vance's sentiment that "judges aren't allowed to control the executive's legitimate power."

Vance's comments over the weekend have been gaining traction among high-profile Republican lawmakers.

Driving the news: "Of course, the branches have to respect our constitutional order, but there's a lot of game yet to be played," Johnson told reporters.

"In the interim, I will say I agree wholeheartedly with Vice President JD Vance," he added.

Zoom in: Johnson also said that he met with Musk on Monday.

He said that what DOGE is doing is "very exciting" because they're accomplishing "what Congress has been unable to do in recent years."
Johnson on Monday also expressed support for the DOGE spending cuts and signaled a willingness to enact legislation that's aligned with those efforts, Axios' Stef Kight and Hans Nichols reported.

State of play: Numerous lawsuits have been filed challenging Musk's efforts to dramatically reshape the federal government, with some of the efforts currently paused by judges.

Go deeper: Court delays federal worker "buyout" deadline

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Johnson: Courts should take a "step back"

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