U.S. Senator Mike Lee, R-Utah, is considering impeachment proceedings against U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani following her decision to block the implementation of a key provision in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
The ruling, issued late Tuesday, temporarily halted enforcement of this portion of the bill, which was designed to strip federal Medicaid funding from Planned Parenthood in 22 states. In her opinion, Judge Talwani stated that Congress may have exceeded its constitutional authority regarding the measure’s structure and application.
This decision ignited immediate backlash among several Republican lawmakers who argue it represents another instance where the judiciary oversteps the boundaries of legislative power. Senator Lee echoed this sentiment via X, denouncing Judge Talwani’s ruling and suggesting a potential congressional remedy: impeachment.
As noted by legal scholars, while judicial impeachment is rare, Congress does retain the authority to remove federal judges for misconduct or abuse of office. However, they added that the threshold required for such action remains high, with political will playing a crucial role in initiating proceedings.
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act was conceived by its Republican sponsors as a comprehensive measure designed to withstand legal challenges by eliminating what opponents describe as bureaucratic gamesmanship surrounding Planned Parenthood funding restrictions. Supporters of the legislation assert it is necessary to comply with requirements approved by conservative lawmakers and overcome obstacles posed by previous judicial decisions, including those from Judge Talwani.
Planned Parenthood expressed satisfaction with Judge Talwani’s ruling in a statement obtained by Politico, noting that her decision “again recognized the ‘defund’ law for what it is: unconstitutional and dangerous.” The organization further highlighted that Medicaid reimbursements for non-abortion-related services help sustain its nationwide abortion infrastructure.
