Supreme Court Justices Elena Kagan and Amy Coney Barrett testified before Congress on Tuesday to request increased security funding for the court [1].
The appearance marks a rare move by sitting justices to directly lobby legislative appropriators. The request underscores a growing concern regarding the physical safety of the judiciary amid a climate of escalating threats [2].
Kagan and Barrett appeared before the U.S. House and Senate appropriations committees on Capitol Hill at 10 a.m. ET [3]. The justices presented a security budget request of $230 million [4].
This funding is intended to bolster protections for the justices and their families in response to an increase in threats directed at the court [2]. The testimony focused on the necessity of a larger security budget to mitigate these risks, and ensure the court can operate without interference [5].
While the justices typically avoid political engagement with the legislative branch, the urgency of the security situation prompted the testimony [2]. The request for $230 million [4] is aimed at upgrading existing infrastructure, and increasing personnel dedicated to the safety of the high court's members [5].
The proceedings took place in Washington, D.C., where lawmakers heard the justices describe the evolving nature of the threats they face [3]. The appropriators are now tasked with reviewing the request as part of the broader federal budget process [5].
“Justices Elena Kagan and Amy Coney Barrett testified before Congress on Tuesday to request increased security funding.”
The decision by two justices from different ideological backgrounds to testify together signals a bipartisan consensus within the Court that current security measures are insufficient. By requesting a specific sum of $230 million, the judiciary is attempting to formalize security needs into the federal budget, potentially setting a precedent for how the Court handles institutional safety in a volatile political environment.
