Supreme Court justices tell Congress security threats are rising as they seek more funding

Supreme Court Justices Amy Coney Barrett and Elena Kagan used a rare appearance before a House Appropriations subcommittee on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, to urge lawmakers to approve the court’s FY 2027 security request—arguing threats are increasing and increasingly affecting their personal and family lives.

The hearing, held with the House Appropriations Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee, focused on the Supreme Court’s FY 2027 budget request and how additional funding would be used to protect the justices and the Court.

The request: about $228.4 million for FY 2027, with security central

The Supreme Court requested about $228.4 million for next fiscal year. Associated Press reported that about $18 million of that amount is for maintaining the building and grounds, while a key part of the security-related increase is the expansion of personal protection for justices.

In its budget materials, the judiciary’s budget summary ties an increase of $14.6 million (and 84 FTE) to expanding the Supreme Court Police’s protective activities for justices’ residences and families. The summary says the request would fund an additional six agents per Justice (54 FTEs) and an administrative support position within the Dignitary Protection Unit, along with additional travel in support of the justices’ security when they are outside the National Capitol Region.

Other security-adjacent items: visitor screening design

The budget summary also calls out $6.5 million for design services for an external visitor screening facility. It says that, based on physical security assessments, screening should occur exterior to the Supreme Court before people enter the building’s main vestibules, and that the requested funding is for the design work.

AP further reported the request includes $2 million for an off-site residential security post aimed at making emergency responses faster, along with an increase in Supreme Court police staffing.

Why they say threats are getting worse

Barrett told lawmakers that the increase in threats targeting her and other justices is encroaching on their personal and family lives. AP reported that Barrett said she had to wear a bulletproof vest at home a few years ago, something she struggled to explain to her 12-year-old son. AP also reported that in May, her security detail worked with police to deal with a call determined to be swatting—a fake 911 call intended to provoke a police response.

Kagan testified that the environment has worsened as threats to the Supreme Court increased after the leak of a draft opinion overturning Roe v. Wade and have continued to grow. AP also reported that the U.S. Marshals Service, responsible for protecting judges, reported 564 threats in the government fiscal year that ended in September, an increase from the year before.

What to watch next: Congress may trim, delay, or fully fund

Even with testimony on the record, Tuesday’s hearing is not the same thing as approved funding. This is Congress weighing the request—so the practical next step is how appropriators handle the numbers as the appropriations process moves forward, including whether security line items are funded as requested, trimmed, or delayed.

For the public, the most direct “if funded” change would be expanded personal protection for the justices and their residences and families—supported by additional agents and related protective operations—along with design work aimed at improving how visitors are screened before entering the Court.

Separately, the House Appropriations Democrats’ office said the hearing is part of an accountability effort, noting that it has been nearly a decade since any Supreme Court justice came before the House of Representatives.

Sources

• Associated Press (AP) — hearing summary and key figures
• U.S. Courts — FY 2027 Congressional Budget Summary (PDF)
• House Appropriations — Budget hearing schedule (July 14, 2026)