Justices Elena Kagan and Amy Coney Barrett testified before Congress on July 14, 2026, seeking $228 million in funding for the Supreme Court’s 2027 budget, marking the first time justices kagan barrett congress testimony have appeared before lawmakers since 2019 to defend the court’s finances.
The two justices appeared before a House Appropriations subcommittee to address rising security concerns at the nation’s highest court. Of the total request, approximately $14.6 million would expand personal protection for justices, including six additional security agents for each justice.
The Supreme Court’s funding request represents roughly a 10% increase over the prior year’s budget. Beyond personnel security, the court is seeking millions of dollars to draft plans for a new facility to screen visitors outside the Supreme Court building, a project aimed at bolstering overall campus safety.
The justices’ appearance underscores growing threats against the federal judiciary. According to data from the U.S. Marshals Service, threats against federal judges have surged in recent years, with 564 threats recorded in fiscal 2025, up from 509 threats the prior year. The spike in threats has prompted the judiciary to seek enhanced security measures across multiple levels of the federal court system.
The testimony comes after the court received a supplemental appropriation of $28 million for security in November 2025 as part of a government funding deal. Despite that funding boost, court officials determined additional resources were necessary to address ongoing safety concerns and implement long-term protective infrastructure.
Why the Testimony Matters
The appearance by Kagan and Barrett is unusual in the modern era. Justices rarely testify before Congress, and their direct appeal to lawmakers signals the court’s assessment that security threats have reached a critical level. The justices represent ideological opposites on the bench—Kagan as one of three liberal justices and Barrett as one of three conservative appointees—yet their joint appearance emphasizes that security concerns transcend ideological lines.
The court’s request for visitor screening infrastructure reflects lessons learned from security incidents and a recognition that the building’s physical design requires modernization. The justices’ kagan barrett congress testimony highlighted the reality that threats to judges have become more frequent and more serious, prompting the court to take a public stand before Congress for resources it views as essential to the safety of the justices, their families, and court staff.
Sources
- The New York Times — Reporting on the justices’ appearance and budget request details
- Fox News — Coverage of the $228 million request and security funding breakdown
- Reuters — Data on threats against federal judges and fiscal year 2025 figures
- The Intelligencer — Details on the $14.6 million personal protection component and additional agents
- SCOTUSblog — Historical context on justices testifying before Congress
- AP News — Confirmation of first appearance since 2019
