Overview
- The two justices testified publicly Tuesday to House and Senate appropriations subcommittees seeking roughly $228 million for fiscal 2027, an about 10% budget increase centered on security.
- The court asked for about $14.6–$15 million to add six security agents per justice plus funding for 25 courthouse officers, a residential command post and $2.3 million for cybersecurity hires.
- Justice Amy Coney Barrett gave personal examples of threats in testimony, including a recent swatting call and being issued a bulletproof vest after the 2022 Dobbs draft leak, while Justice Elena Kagan described multi‑year rises in threats and stepped‑up protections.
- Lawmakers from both parties expressed sympathy for the safety case but used the rare hearings to press the justices on ethics, leaks and the emergency or “shadow” docket, tying public rhetoric to risks to individual justices.
- Congress will decide the request as part of the broader appropriations process, and approval would further shift residential protection toward the Supreme Court Police and boost long‑term investments in the court’s security posture.