Associate Justices Elena Kagan and Amy Coney Barrett testified before Congress on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, regarding the Supreme Court’s security budget request [1].
The appearance marks a rare instance of sitting justices testifying before legislators to secure funding, highlighting a growing concern over the physical safety of the judiciary. The request comes as the Court faces an increase in threats directed at the justices and their families [2].
The justices appeared on Capitol Hill before the House Appropriations Subcommittee [3]. Some reports indicated that the testimony extended to both House and Senate appropriators [4]. The proceedings began at 10 a.m. ET [5], with some reports noting a second session at 2 p.m. ET [6].
At the center of the testimony is a request for approximately $230 million in security funding [7]. This budget is intended to bolster protection measures for the justices and their immediate circles amid a volatile security environment [2].
This is the first time since 2019 that justices have appeared before Congress in this capacity [8]. The move underscores the urgency the Court feels regarding its current security posture, and the need for dedicated federal resources to mitigate risks.
Throughout the hearing, the focus remained on the administrative and financial requirements of the Court's security detail rather than the legal merits of the cases currently before the bench.
“The request comes as the Court faces an increase in threats directed at the justices and their families.”
The rare appearance of two Associate Justices before a congressional subcommittee signals a critical shift in how the Supreme Court manages its security. By bypassing typical administrative channels and testifying personally, the Court is elevating the issue of judicial safety to a matter of urgent national security, potentially pressuring Congress to decouple security funding from broader political disputes over the Court's ideological direction.
