House Speaker Mike Johnson found himself at the center of several national debates this week, addressing everything from the ongoing shakeup at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to the persistent calls for transparency in the Jeffrey Epstein case. Appearing on major networks Friday, Johnson also fielded questions about the aftermath of a tragic school shooting in Minneapolis and the public’s reaction to President Donald Trump’s sweeping tax and spending legislation—colloquially dubbed the "big beautiful bill." With Congress poised to return from its monthlong August recess, the Speaker’s comments offered a glimpse into the complex priorities and political pressures facing the House in a turbulent climate.
One of the most pressing issues was the turmoil at the CDC. The recent termination of CDC Director Susan Monarez by the administration triggered a mass exodus at the agency and reignited questions about public trust in the nation’s top health authority. According to ABC News, Johnson stood firmly behind Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who oversaw the shakeup. "Well, I think overall, Secretary Kennedy is doing a great job," Johnson said. He described the leadership changes as "needed" and emphasized, "We've got to trust the secretary to do his job. They've had some great results there. We're getting America healthy again—that's well received across the country, and long overdue, in my view, so we're going to let the Cabinet do their job, and I'm going to stay in my lane and do mine."
Pressed about vaccine availability and whether the CDC could regain public trust after such upheaval, Johnson was measured. "Let's see how all that sorts out," he remarked, adding, "The CDC plays an important role in the government and in our society, and we want it to be strong, and we want it to be restored to its original intent." He echoed Kennedy’s criticism of the previous leadership, asserting, "The secretary's made a good point that the existing leadership was not—not doing that."
While the CDC’s challenges dominated headlines, the House’s approach to the Jeffrey Epstein files remained a focal point of public scrutiny. The chamber abruptly adjourned for its August recess a day early in July after a stalemate over efforts to release more information about Epstein, the disgraced financier whose crimes and mysterious death have fueled years of speculation. With lawmakers set to reconvene, bipartisan pressure is mounting for a floor vote to compel the Department of Justice (DOJ) to release all Epstein-related documents.
Johnson, speaking to both ABC News and CNN, indicated he would permit such a vote if necessary, though he suggested it might not be needed. "If it's necessary, we will," he said, referencing a discharge petition led by Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna and Republican Rep. Thomas Massie. "I think what's happened over August, over the last few weeks, has probably mooted that—the necessity of legislation," Johnson explained, noting that the DOJ had already provided thousands of documents to the House Oversight Committee.
He expanded on this point during his CNN News Central appearance, stating, "We have our own resolutions to do all this, but it’s sort of not necessary at the point because the administration is already doing this—they’re turning it over." He predicted, "There probably will be a vote of some sense, but we’ve got to get everybody collected again and build consensus around that." As of late August, Johnson said, "the Department of Justice and the administration have been fully compliant with Congress’ subpoenas, and they’ve submitted over 34,000 Epstein documents already." He insisted, "We’re for maximum transparency. With the Epstein files, I’ve been saying this for years—we’ve been intellectually consistent from day one."
Yet, not everyone in Congress is satisfied. Rep. Khanna has criticized the DOJ’s document release as incomplete, arguing that much of the material was already public and that his bill remains necessary. Khanna and Massie are reportedly planning to bring survivors of Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell’s abuse to Capitol Hill to bolster support for their bipartisan resolution, which would force the Trump administration to release all remaining Epstein files. The controversy has drawn sharp rebukes from former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who called the House’s early break in July "shameful" and accused Johnson of blocking transparency, arguing, "To block transparency in this manner is not only an abdication of duty—it is a profound insult to the victims who have carried the burden of this trauma for decades."
Johnson has also expressed skepticism regarding the value of hearing from Maxwell directly. "Can she be counted on to tell the truth? Is she a credible witness?" he told reporters in July, referencing his "obvious concern" about relying on testimony from someone convicted of "terrible, unspeakable, conspiratorial acts, acts against innocent young people."
Meanwhile, the Speaker addressed another urgent national issue: the deadly school shooting at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis, which left two children dead and 18 injured. Asked whether the House would take up gun violence legislation, Johnson refrained from endorsing new laws but said he is "always open for that" discussion. "Listen, it’s important that politicians on either side of the aisle do not politicize a moment like this," he told ABC News. "There are many commonsense measures that can and should be taken to protect children at schools and churches that do not involve taking away the constitutional rights of law-abiding American citizens." Johnson stressed, "At the end of the day, the problems in these situations is not the guns, it’s the human heart, and we can put more resources towards treatment of mental health." He added that he is open to "any bipartisan solution that can address these kinds of issues that actually go to the heart of the matter."
Rounding out a week of high-profile interviews, Johnson also confronted criticism of President Trump’s "big beautiful bill"—the nickname for the administration’s expansive tax and spending legislation. The bill has faced mixed reviews, with a Pew Research Center poll indicating that only three in ten Americans approve of it. Johnson, however, pushed back against the negativity. "What we did over the August district work period is all the Republican members of Congress, Senate and House, went out, fanned out across the country in their districts, and talked with the American people about the extraordinary provisions that are in this bill," he said. "It is aptly named. It is big and it is beautiful, and every single American is going to benefit from it." He argued that individual provisions are more popular than the overall polling suggests once they are explained in detail to the public.
As Congress returns from recess, the path ahead is anything but clear. The CDC’s future, the full disclosure of Epstein’s secrets, and the nation’s response to gun violence and fiscal policy remain unresolved. Johnson’s comments this week illustrate the balancing act required of House leadership—juggling calls for transparency, reform, and unity in a divided and watchful nation.