Supreme Court Justices Elena Kagan and Amy Coney Barrett said Congress on Tuesday for additional funding to protect justices and their families [1].
The request comes amid a rise in targeted threats against the high court, signaling a rare moment of bipartisan urgency regarding the physical safety of the judiciary. The justices appeared before a House Appropriations subcommittee on Capitol Hill to address the security gaps facing the court [2].
According to the justices, the court is requesting roughly $230 million [1]. They said that millions more are needed to ensure the safety of the justices and their immediate family members [3]. This financial request is driven by an increase in dangerous activities, including swatting, bomb threats, and other targeted attacks [4].
This appearance marks the first time Supreme Court justices have testified before Congress since 2019 [5]. The rare move underscores the severity of the current security environment, as justices typically avoid legislative testimony to maintain judicial independence.
During the proceedings, the justices detailed how the nature of threats has evolved. The need for increased funding is linked to the persistent risk of coordinated attacks and the necessity of expanding protective details for family members, who are often targeted to pressure the court [4].
Lawmakers on the subcommittee reviewed the request as part of the broader appropriations process. The justices said that the current budget is insufficient to counter the sophisticated methods used by those attempting to intimidate the court [1].
“The court is requesting roughly $230 million.”
The rare appearance of two justices before a congressional subcommittee indicates that the threat level against the judiciary has reached a critical threshold. By requesting a specific $230 million appropriation, the Court is moving beyond general concerns to a formal budgetary demand, suggesting that existing security protocols are no longer sufficient to deter modern forms of harassment and targeted violence.
