Supreme Court Justices Seek Additional Security Funding Amid Rising Threats

Supreme Court Justices Amy Coney Barrett and Elena Kagan will appear before Congress on Tuesday. They aim to secure tens of millions of dollars in extra security funding. Rising threats against federal judges and their families have prompted this request.

The justices represent different court ideologies. Barrett is part of the conservative majority, while Kagan is from the liberal wing. Their joint appearance is rare. It is intended to support a $228 million budget request for the fiscal year starting October 1. This amount reflects a $20 million increase over previous funding.

Since 2019, this is the first time Supreme Court justices have testified before Congress. Barrett will likely face questions about recent rulings, especially after a divisive term. During this term, the court blocked President Donald Trump’s attempts related to birthright citizenship and global tariffs. Newsweek sought comment from the Supreme Court’s Public Information Office.

Security Funding Details

The judiciary has requested $920.9 million for security for fiscal year 2027. This marks a $28.9 million increase over the prior fiscal year, representing a 3.2 percent rise. If approved, these funds will support frontline security forces at federal courthouses.

The Supreme Court specifically seeks $228 million for the next fiscal year, a 10 percent rise from the previous year. This includes an increase of $14.6 million for the Supreme Court Police. The aim is to expand protection for justices and their families at home and during travels outside Washington.

The planned budget will fund six additional agents per justice and an administrative role. It will also cover 25 officers needed for enhanced security at the Supreme Court Building and four more police administration roles.

The justices have requested $6.5 million for a new facility to screen visitors outside their Capitol Hill location. This facility is similar to the Capitol’s visitor center opened in 2008.

An additional $2.3 million is requested to hire engineers and developers to shield justices from cyberthreats. They also seek $2 million for an extra command post. This post will enhance coordination for the Court’s residential security program.

The command post aims to improve officer hiring and retention, enhance emergency response, and make the security program more cost-effective.

Overall, the judiciary seeks $9.7 billion in funding. This reflects a 4.5 percent increase over the 2026 appropriation of $9.2 billion.

Reasons for Increased Funding

The Supreme Court requests additional funding due to increasing threats against justices and other federal judges. After the court reversed Roe v. Wade in 2022, protests erupted outside justices’ homes. Justice Brett Kavanaugh faced an assassination attempt, leading to 24/7 residential security.

Threats persist. In May, Justice Barrett was targeted in a swatting attempt at her Virginia home. Last year, her sister faced a false bomb threat in Charleston, South Carolina.

The U.S. Marshals Service, tasked with federal judiciary protection, reported 564 threats in the last fiscal year, compared to 509 the year before. These threats target various federal judges, including Supreme Court justices.

Lawmakers must decide by September 30 whether to approve these funding requests for fiscal year 2027.

Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Ben Kelly and Cristina Diciu.