Justices Elena Kagan and Amy Coney Barrett testified Tuesday before a House subcommittee to request a seven percent funding increase for the Supreme Court [1].
The request highlights a growing tension between the judiciary and the legislative branch over the physical safety of the nation's highest court members. As threats against the justices increase, the Court argues that current resources are insufficient to maintain necessary security protocols.
Justice Kagan said that the requested increase, which amounts to roughly $14 million [2], is driven by two primary factors: routine inflationary adjustments and the rising cost of protecting the Court. She said that most of the budget growth beyond inflation has been dedicated to security expenses [1].
The total security budget request for the Court stands at $230 million [3]. This funding is intended to mitigate risks to the justices and court staff as the physical security environment evolves.
Justice Barrett emphasized the persistence of the risks facing the judiciary. "The threats are constant, and they're always there," Barrett said [4].
The testimony took place on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., during a hearing focused on the Court's budget request [3]. The justices presented their case to the subcommittee, detailing how security needs have outpaced previous budget allocations.
Kagan said that aside from annual inflationary increases, recent growth in the Court's budget has been almost entirely for security expenses [1]. The justices maintained that these financial adjustments are essential for the continued operational safety of the institution.
“"The threats are constant, and they're always there."”
The request for a $230 million security budget signals an institutional acknowledgment that the Supreme Court is facing a new era of physical risk. By sending two justices to testify personally, the Court is attempting to move the conversation from political disputes over rulings to the practical, non-partisan necessity of personnel safety.
