House Speaker Mike Johnson backs ban on lawmakers dating any staffers

Speaker Mike Johnson said members of Congress should be prohibited from romantic relationships with any House staff, even when the employees do not work directly for the lawmakers. He argued that the rule should apply across the entire House, mirroring workplace standards used in the private sector.

The proposal would require a revision to the House Code of Official Conduct and expands the existing ban, which currently covers only subordinates in a member’s office or committee. Johnson noted recent allegations involving a senator's relationships with staffers as a catalyst for the change. The initiative has backing from both Democratic Women’s Caucus Chair Teresa Leger Fernandez and GOP Conference Chair Lisa McClain, suggesting bipartisan momentum. A bipartisan working group is also reviewing broader ethics reforms, including training, reporting procedures, and retaliation protections.