House Democrats Seek to Launch '25th Amendment Commission' to Remove Trump From Office

The proposal aims to establish a 17-member panel to assess the president's fitness to serve.

Apr. 15, 2026 at 12:20am

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A fractured, abstract painting in red, white, and blue hues depicting the U.S. Capitol building in a state of motion, conveying the sense of political instability and turmoil surrounding the 25th Amendment proposal.The House Democrats' push to invoke the 25th Amendment reflects the ongoing political tensions and power struggles in Washington.NYC Today

House Democrats have introduced new legislation to create a commission to evaluate whether President Trump should be removed from office under the 25th Amendment. The effort is led by New York Congressman Jamie Raskin and would establish a 17-member panel to assess whether the president is fit to carry out his duties. The bill has 50 Democratic co-sponsors, but is almost certain to fail with Republicans controlling Congress and the president retaining veto power.

Why it matters

This is the latest attempt by Democrats to remove President Trump from office, following previous efforts to impeach him. The 25th Amendment provides a mechanism for the vice president and Cabinet, or a body created by Congress, to declare a president unfit. The proposed commission would conduct a medical evaluation to determine the president's capacity, raising concerns about the politicization of the process.

The details

The bill would rely on Section 4 of the 25th Amendment, which allows the vice president and Cabinet, or a body created by Congress, to declare a president unfit. Under the proposal, the commission would conduct a medical evaluation to determine whether the president is 'mentally or physically unable to discharge the powers and duties of the office.' Members of the commission would be appointed by congressional leadership from both parties, along with former senior executive officials, who would then select a chair. Any action would still require approval from Vice President J.D. Vance.

  • The bill was introduced in the House of Representatives on April 13, 2026.

The players

Jamie Raskin

A Democratic Congressman from New York who is leading the effort to establish the 25th Amendment commission.

J.D. Vance

The current Vice President, whose approval would be required for any action taken by the proposed commission.

Davis Ingle

A spokesperson for the White House, who described Raskin as a 'stupid person's idea of a smart person.'

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What they’re saying

“The Constitution explicitly vests Congress with the authority to create a body that will guarantee the successful continuity of government by responding to presidential incapacity to discharge the powers and duties of office.”

— Jamie Raskin, Congressman

“President Trump's sharpness, unmatched energy, and historic accessibility stand in stark contrast to what we saw during the past four years when Democrats like Raskin intentionally covered up Joe Biden's serious mental and physical decline from the American people.”

— Davis Ingle, White House Spokesperson

What’s next

The bill must now go through the legislative process, where it faces significant challenges due to Republican control of Congress and the president's veto power.

The takeaway

This latest effort by House Democrats to remove President Trump from office using the 25th Amendment highlights the ongoing political divisions and power struggles in Washington. While the proposal is unlikely to succeed, it underscores the deep partisan tensions and the challenges of maintaining stable governance in a polarized political environment.