Supreme Court Justices Amy Coney Barrett and Elena Kagan made a rare appearance before a House committee this week, testifying in support of the judiciary's upcoming fiscal year budget. Their testimony, the first by sitting justices before Congress in this capacity since 2019, centered on a request for increased funding, particularly for enhanced security measures aimed at protecting federal judges amid a documented surge in threats. The proposed budget for the Supreme Court's next fiscal year, commencing October 1, totals over $228 million, marking an increase of more than $20 million from current funding levels. A substantial portion of this increase, roughly $14.6 million, is specifically allocated to justice protection, designated to fund six new security agents per justice and cover expenses related to travel outside the Washington, D.C. area.
"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." — Justice Amy Coney Barrett, Supreme Court
Justice Barrett used her time before the committee to offer a personal account of the heightened security risks, describing an incident that profoundly impacted her family. Following the leak of the court’s decision overturning Roe v. Wade, Justice Barrett was issued a bulletproof vest. She recounted the unexpected challenge of explaining such an item to her children, a stark illustration of the personal toll her service has taken. Further illustrating the severity of the threats, Barrett detailed a "swatting" incident that occurred approximately six weeks prior to her testimony. In this alarming event, an individual falsely reported gunfire and "raised voices" at her residence, prompting a significant police response. Her teenage son encountered law enforcement officers firsthand at their front door, a moment she described as deeply unsettling.
Justice Kagan's testimony echoed Justice Barrett's concerns, painting a similarly stark picture of the threats facing the judiciary. She informed lawmakers that the danger has, at times, come "very close" to individual justices, and that all members of the court live with the knowledge that these threats "may again materialize." Despite these challenges, Kagan emphasized the justices' unwavering commitment to their constitutional duties. Quoting Chief Justice John Roberts, she stated, "all members of the court continue to do their jobs as they believe legally right, adjudicating cases without fear or favor." Kagan also cited internal projections from the Supreme Court Police, which forecast an alarming 38 percent surge in threats against justices in 2026 alone, underscoring the escalating nature of the security landscape.
The broader context of these threats extends beyond the Supreme Court. Data from the U.S. Marshals Service indicates a significant rise in security incidents targeting federal judges across the nation. The agency reported a 57 percent spike in incidents classified as "security incidents of significant concern" during fiscal year 2025. As of July 1 of the current year, 370 threats against federal judges had already been logged, triggering 512 separate investigations by the Marshals Service. This pace stands in sharp contrast to the previous fiscal year, when officials tallied a total of 564 threats against judges over the entire twelve-month period. This suggests that the current year's numbers are on track to climb even higher before the fiscal year concludes, according to CBS.
Judicial officials outside the Supreme Court have also voiced similar concerns in recent months, warning that the escalating nature of these threats risks interfering with judges' ability to rule independently and without intimidation. The testimony from Justices Barrett and Kagan offered a rare human dimension to what is typically a routine funding hearing, providing candid public accounts of the personal impact of serving on the nation's highest court amidst a rising tide of threats. The Supreme Court's full budget request, including the proposed increase for security funding, will now proceed into the broader congressional appropriations process. Lawmakers are expected to weigh this request against competing budget priorities in the coming weeks as the federal government prepares for the start of the new fiscal year on October 1. The outcome will determine the extent of new resources available to protect the judiciary.
