Supreme Court justices defend $225 million budget request

By Andrew Rice
The Center Square

U.S. Supreme Court Justices Elena Kagan and Amy Coney Barrett made a rare appearance before lawmakers on Tuesday to defend the high court’s $225.1 million budget request, which included increased provisions for security.

The U.S. House Appropriations subcommittee on financial services and general government heard testimony from the two justices of the court’s fiscal year 2027 budget request, a 29% increase above the fiscal year 2026 level, according to congressional appropriations records.

Included in the budget is an $18.9 million increase in court security, as testimony at the hearing noted that threats have increased over recent years against justices on the high court.

Barrett described personal threats she experienced over the past few years, including an incident where a false police report was made at her home in May. She also detailed an incident where she explained to her 12-year-old son why she carried a bulletproof vest with her.

“I didn’t expect that performing this service was going to put me in the position of explaining to my children what a bulletproof vest was and why I had to wear one,” Barrett said.

Kagan and Barrett also detailed instances where packages were dropped off to their homes with threatening messages.

“Federal judges across the country, throughout the judiciary, including the Supreme Court, continue to do their jobs without fear or favor, but the threat level is really high,” Barrett said.

Security personnel funds include protection at each of the justices’ homes. According to the budget request, funds for residential protection total $2 million. The justices also requested a $14.6 million expansion of personal protective services, which include six additional security agents for each justice

Barrett said threats appeared to increase after the leak of the high court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, a case that overturned the constitutional right to abortion and returned the issue to the states.

The justices said the court is working to transition from using a contractor for security services to its own private service. Lawmakers asked whether the court would be able to transition from using contractors for residential security threats, but the justices said they do not have enough funding to do so.

The Chertoff Group, a security and risk management firm, is one of the contractors used to protect residential property belonging to the justices. The budget request for fiscal year 2027 is not enough to fully fund security services without a contractor, the justices said.

“Our goal is to get to the point where we are not reliant on outside contractors,” Kagan said.

The high court operates with its own police force, responsible for protecting the grounds of the court and individuals inside the building, including the justices. Kagan said the court’s police anticipate a 38% increase in annual threats this year, following a 25% increase last year.

“For some of us, those cases have come very close and all of us live with the knowledge that they may again materialize,” Kagan said.

The justices also highlighted funds for increased cybersecurity measures. Barrett said the advancement of artificial intelligence has made for a more threatening cybersecurity landscape in the court.

The court’s request included $2.3 million for additional cybersecurity positions in order to shore up the integrity of the federal judiciary. The request anticipates needing 37 new cybersecurity positions to address rising threats.

“We can’t engage in confidential communications if you think those views are going to appear on the front page of the newspaper,” Kagan said.

The budget request includes notable increases in salaries and expenses, with a $14 million increase. The budget also includes a $6.7 million increase in grounds and buildings funds.

“We carry out our work with relatively modest funding. Our budget represents just 2% of the judiciary branch’s total funding, which in turn represents 1/10 of 1% of the federal budget,” Kagan said.