Johnson served as the chief education and investigative counsel for the House Committee on Education and the Workforce. She was the principal policy advisor and spokesperson for the committee.[7][3] She primarily focused on elementary and secondary education issues, juvenile justice, child nutrition, labor issues, and older Americans' employment and nutrition programs.[4]
After nearly twenty years in the House of Representatives, Johnson went on to serve in the Smithsonian Institution's Office of Government Relations for ten years, serving one of those years as director.[7]
On January 3, 2023, pursuant to her duties as clerk, Johnson presided over the first session of the 118th United States Congress until January 7, 2023, making her the first African American woman and person of color to wield the gavel for the U.S. House of Representatives.[12] After fourteen failed attempts by the House to elect a Speaker, her presiding role concluded when Representative Kevin McCarthy was elected the 55th Speaker of the House in the 15th ballot.[11]
Johnson also served as Clerk during the 116th United States Congress (2019–2021) and 117th United States Congress (2021–2023). After her presiding role, she was renominated, this time, by McCarthy, to remain Clerk during the 118th United States Congress. In June 2023, she addressed the House to announce her resignation effective June 30, 2023, receiving a standing ovation from the representatives. She was succeeded by her deputy clerk, Kevin McCumber.[13]
^ abHubbell, Martindale (March 2001). Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory: Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, U.S. Government Lawyers, Law Schools (Volume 4 – 2001). Martindale-Hubbell. ISBN9781561604395.