Supreme Court Associate Justices Elena Kagan and Amy Coney Barrett testified before Congress on Tuesday to request additional funding for court security [1].
The request comes as the judiciary faces an escalation of threats against justices, raising concerns about the physical safety of the nation's highest court members.
Appearing before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government in Washington, D.C., the justices detailed the urgency of the situation [1, 2]. The funding request varies by hearing, with reports indicating a request of $230 million [1] before the House subcommittee and $225 million [4] before a Senate hearing.
"Threats have come very close to the justices," Barrett said [3]. She said the court is asking for additional funding to ensure it can continue its work safely [1].
Kagan emphasized the critical nature of the security upgrades during her testimony. "The safety of the justices is paramount, and we need the resources to protect them," Kagan said [2].
The hearings were scheduled for 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. [5]. The justices used the forum to bridge the gap between the court's operational needs and the legislative process of budget allocation, a rare public appearance for sitting justices regarding administrative funding.
Security for the Supreme Court has become a focal point for lawmakers as the political climate intensifies. The requested funds would be used to enhance the protection of the justices and the court's facilities to mitigate the risks posed by targeted threats [1, 3].
“"Threats have come very close to the justices."”
This rare appearance by sitting justices before a congressional subcommittee signals a critical inflection point in the relationship between the judiciary and the legislative branch. By explicitly linking funding to the physical safety of the court, the justices are highlighting a vulnerability that could potentially impact the independence and stability of the judicial process if threats are not effectively managed.
