Supreme Court Justices Amy Coney Barrett and Elena Kagan are scheduled to appear before Congress to request additional security funding due to increasing threats against federal judges and their families. Representing different ideological wings of the court, they will testify about the court’s $228 million budget request for the next fiscal year starting October 1, marking a $20 million increase from its previous funding.
This appearance is the first time Supreme Court justices will testify before Congress since 2019. Barrett, in particular, may face questions regarding her recent rulings following a contentious term affecting significant policies like birthright citizenship and global tariffs under former President Donald Trump.
The judiciary has requested $920.9 million for security in the fiscal year 2027, marking a 3.2 percent increase from the previous year. This funding aims to enhance frontline security forces at federal courthouses.
The Supreme Court’s request includes allocating $14.6 million to expand protective activities by the Supreme Court Police, which extends to justices and their families, both at their homes and during travel outside Washington. Budget documents indicate plans to fund an additional six agents per justice, an administrative role, and 25 officers to heighten security at the Supreme Court Building. Additionally, four police administration positions are proposed to support growth within the department.
Specific requests include $6.5 million for a new facility to screen visitors outside the court’s Capitol Hill location, similar to the Capitol visitor center established in 2008. Furthermore, $2.3 million is sought to employ engineers and developers for cybersecurity, alongside $2 million for an extra command post to coordinate protection coverage for the Court’s residential security program. This post is intended to enhance hiring and retention of police officers, improve emergency response times, and establish a more cost-effective security program.
Apart from security funding, the judiciary seeks $9.7 billion overall, reflecting a 4.5 percent increase from the fiscal year 2026 allocation of $9.2 billion. Lawmakers have until September 30 to pass a new spending bill for fiscal year 2027.
Reason Behind the Request
The increased security funding request stems from rising threats against Supreme Court justices and other federal judges. Following the 2022 Roe v. Wade reversal, protests arose outside justices’ homes, with Justice Brett Kavanaugh facing an assassination attempt. Subsequently, justices have received continuous security at their residences.
Threats persist, including a recent swatting attempt at Justice Barrett’s Virginia home and a false bomb threat targeting her sister in Charleston, South Carolina. The U.S. Marshals Service reported 564 threats by the end of the last government fiscal year, up from 509 the year before. These threats impacted various federal judges nationwide, including Supreme Court justices.