Steny Hoyer Blasts GOP For Attempts To Block Judges From Ruling Against Trump’s ‘Illegal’ Actions

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During a House Appropriations Committee hearing last week, Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD) spoke of his disapproval for the GOP’s actions towards the Judiciary.

Transcript

00:00I now recognize the ranking member for his opening statement.

00:03Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.

00:07I want to thank Judge Conrad and Judge St. Eve for being with us

00:11and for the meeting we had, which was very helpful as a preface to this hearing.

00:16If the judiciary, Mr. Chairman, is to meet this pivotal moment and preserve the rule of law,

00:21we must ensure that it has the resources and independence it needs to function

00:26as a co-equal branch of government.

00:30That's why I'm very disturbed to see certain House Republicans call for retaliation against judges

00:36who rule on the law as they see it, but with which the present administration may disagree.

00:44Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan sent a letter asking this committee

00:48to limit funding the judiciary uses to issue and enforce injunctions.

00:54Other House Republicans have filed articles of impeachment against judges,

00:57not for any misconduct, but rather for ruling against the administration.

01:03Federal judges who block Trump's illegal executive actions are just trying to do their jobs

01:10and interpreting the law.

01:12That is their role, and that is critical to our democracy.

01:16Many were appointed by Republican presidents.

01:18Some were even appointed by Donald Trump himself.

01:21I agree with Chief Justice Roberts' assessment earlier this week

01:26that retaliation against them has, to use his words, endangered the rule of law.

01:36You can't claim to stand for law and order when you threaten the independence

01:41of the branch responsible for upholding law and order.

01:44Some of my colleagues across the aisle agree, and I hope they'll stand up for the judiciary.

01:50Our subcommittee needs to ensure our courts receive the resources they need

01:54to fulfill their duties under the Constitution.

01:57Doing so is especially important considering the recent continuing resolution

02:01did not provide any funding increase for the judiciary in fiscal year 2025.

02:08Six of the 11 judicial branch appropriations were funded at a freeze for a second year.

02:13Meaning they were forced to continue operating at fiscal year 23 levels.

02:20For fiscal year 26, judiciary requested a $9.4 billion in discretionary funding,

02:26an increase of $800 million, or 9.3 percent over the 25 continuing resolution.

02:33Most of that increase, however, some 68 percent, is just to offset inflation,

02:38while the rest is for programmatic reassessment.

02:43Failing to fulfill that request would threaten the judiciary's ability to perform basic constitutional

02:50and statutory functions.

02:53I'm particularly concerned, Mr. Chairman, about our Federal Public Defender Program,

02:59which has faced a severe staffing shortage and budget shortfall for years.

03:06As a matter of fact, we made a mistake in this committee, and the Senate made a further mistake,

03:14which was corrected, which would have completely undermined the ability to perform the public defender

03:21service as is necessary.

03:23The judiciary has requested $1.77 billion for defender services,

03:27an increase, a substantial increase, of $315 million, or 22 percent, over the fiscal year 25 CR.

03:36Again, a freeze at 23 levels.

03:39Without that funding, courts will struggle to ensure that Americans are provided their constitutional right

03:48to an attorney, a competent attorney.

03:52We also need to ensure that our courts can keep up with the increasing caseloads.

03:57That means following through on the request to increase funding for the Court of Appeals

04:01and District Courts by $345 million, or 6 percent.

04:06And again, for the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, by 8 million, or 8 percent, over the 25 CR.

04:13Again, we're talking about 73 levels, essentially.

04:16Without these increases to help our courts here hire staff as needed and cover basic operational costs,

04:24case backlogs will only continue to grow, making it harder for Americans to receive timely justice and due process.

04:34I know all the committee members understand this, but criminal cases must become before the civil cases

04:41because of the right to a speedy trial.

04:45That means small businesses and other Americans will be pushed to later resolution of their cases.

04:53We also need to devote more resources to keep our judges and courts safe

04:57at the time when Donald Trump and his allies are vilifying our courts.

05:03The public hears that, and it has a tendency to inflame those who may be irrational, may be mentally ill, or just may be angry.

05:17We ought to fulfill its request for a $142 million, or 19 percent, increase above the 25 CR for court security.

05:26Now, court security is a euphemism for making sure our judges are safe,

05:31making sure that our judges are not intimidated,

05:34making sure that justice will be served unrelated to the threat of violence.

05:40I look forward to the hearing, hearing more from Judge Conrad and Judge St. Eve,

05:45although I want to say to you I'm going to go back to my other hearing, going back and forth.

05:50But my staff will be here, and I'm going to hear everything you say,

05:55but it may not be, it may be virtually.

05:57Everyone who stands for law and order, Mr. Chairman, ought to be united in the mission of ensuring

06:06that our judiciary is safe, neutral, and articulating their thoughts regarding and opinions with reference to the law

06:19unrelated to intimidation and forces beyond their control.

06:25I yield back.

06:26I yield back.

06:27I yield back.

06:28I yield back.

06:29I yield back.

06:30I yield back.

06:31I yield back.

06:32I yield back.

06:33I yield back.

06:34I yield back.

06:35I yield back.

06:36I yield back.

06:37I yield back.

06:38I yield back.

06:39I yield back.

06:40I yield back.

06:41I yield back.

06:42I yield back.

06:43I yield back.

06:44I yield back.

06:45I yield back.

06:46I yield back.

06:47I yield back.

06:48I yield back.

06:49I yield back.

06:50I yield back.

06:51I yield back.

06:52I yield back.

06:53I yield back.

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