Supreme Court Justices Amy Coney Barrett and Elena Kagan testified before a House Appropriations subcommittee on Tuesday to request a 10% budget increase for the court, totaling approximately $230 million. The justices cited a significant rise in threats against members of the judiciary as the primary justification for the additional funding. Justice Kagan noted that the Supreme Court police force anticipates a 38% increase in threats this year following a 25% increase the previous year.
During the hearing, Justice Barrett detailed personal security incidents, including a "swatting" hoax at her home six weeks ago and the need to wear a bulletproof vest following the 2022 leak of the Roe v. Wade reversal. She also reported that several federal judges had received anonymous, harassing deliveries at their residences. The appearance marked the first time sitting justices have testified before Congress on budget matters since 2019.
The request for increased security funding follows a period of heightened tension surrounding the court's rulings on abortion and executive power. Data from the U.S. Marshals Service indicates that nearly 400 federal judges faced threats last year. Lawmakers also questioned the justices on internal ethics procedures, with Justice Kagan expressing support for an enforcement panel, while Justice Barrett characterized herself as less certain on the specific implementation of such a measure.