Supreme Court Justices Elena Kagan and Amy Coney Barrett testified before Congress on Tuesday, July 13, to request additional funding for court security.
This rare appearance by sitting justices highlights a growing concern over the physical safety of the judiciary. The request comes as the court faces an escalation in targeted threats, including bomb threats and swatting incidents, which have necessitated a more robust security infrastructure.
The justices appeared before the U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch in Washington, D.C. Their testimony focused on the need for a substantial budget increase to protect the justices and the institution from evolving security risks.
According to current records, the Supreme Court security budget stands at $44 million [3]. To address the heightened threat environment, the court has requested a significantly larger sum for the 2027 fiscal year. Reports on the exact figure vary, with estimates ranging from $207 million [2] to roughly $228 million [1].
The request for a multi-million dollar increase reflects the severity of the risks cited by the court. Swatting, the act of filing a false police report to trigger a tactical response, and direct bomb threats have created a volatile atmosphere for the members of the high court.
By testifying directly to the House Appropriations Subcommittee, Kagan and Barrett sought to underscore the urgency of these needs. The move is considered unusual, as Supreme Court justices typically maintain a distance from legislative budgetary hearings to preserve judicial independence.
“Justices Elena Kagan and Amy Coney Barrett testified before Congress on Tuesday, July 13, to request additional funding for court security.”
The decision by two justices to testify before a House subcommittee marks a departure from traditional judicial norms. It suggests that the perceived threat level has reached a point where the court believes standard budgetary requests are insufficient. If Congress approves the funding, it will represent a massive percentage increase in the security budget, signaling a formal recognition of the increased volatility surrounding the U.S. judiciary.
