Two Supreme Court justices just asked Congress for millions in extra security money, arguing that rising threats now reach inside their own homes.
Story Snapshot
- Justices Amy Coney Barrett and Elena Kagan made a rare trip to Congress to defend a major security funding increase for the Supreme Court.
- The Court wants about $20.5–$20.6 million more for its 2027 budget, including $14.6 million for stronger security at work and at home.
- Barrett cited personal incidents, including a swatting episode and a bomb threat aimed at her sister’s home, to show how far threats have grown.
- The broader judiciary is seeking over $900 million for security nationwide, even as many Americans doubt Washington’s spending priorities.
Rare public grilling of the Supreme Court
Justices Elena Kagan and Amy Coney Barrett appeared before the House Appropriations Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee to explain the Supreme Court’s budget request for 2027. This kind of public testimony by sitting justices almost never happens and had not occurred since 2019, when Kagan and Justice Samuel Alito spoke to lawmakers about money for the Court. The hearing came only weeks after a tense term with major rulings that deepened political anger and public distrust.
The Supreme Court is asking Congress for roughly a $20.5–$20.6 million budget increase, bringing its total request to about $228 million for the coming year. Of that increase, $14.6 million is specifically marked for more security, including protection when justices are at the Court and when they are at home with their families. An extra $2 million inside that amount would go toward home security measures, like upgrades to systems and staffing around private residences.
Real threats, real fear for judges and families
Barrett’s testimony highlighted that these numbers are not just about comfort or privilege but about threats she and other justices have personally faced. Reporting on the hearing notes that Barrett has already been the target of a swatting incident, where false reports to police led to an armed response at her home. Her sister’s home was also hit with a bomb threat, showing that anger over Court decisions can spill over onto family members who have nothing to do with those rulings.
These personal stories fit into a larger pattern of rising threats against judges at every level. After the leak of the Dobbs abortion decision draft in 2022, crowds gathered at the private homes of several conservative justices, and one man was arrested outside Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s house with weapons and admitted plans to kill him. The Administrative Office of the United States Courts is now asking for more than $920 million to staff security officers at federal courthouses nationwide, citing this surge in danger.
Money, power, and the deep split over government
For many Americans, the idea of spending more on security for powerful officials stirs mixed feelings. Some see the threats and agree that the government must protect judges so they can rule without fear or pressure. Others question why elites seem to get fast, focused help while regular citizens face crime, inflation, and high costs with little relief. They watch Congress argue over millions for people at the top while everyday problems remain unsolved.
LIVE: Justices Kagan & Barrett Face Senate on SCOTUS Budget https://t.co/zgzc6DeCyP
Watch the Senate Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government review the Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Request for the Supreme Court of the United States. Supreme Court Justices Amy Coney…— DefenseNow (@NowDefense) July 14, 2026
The hearing also reminds people how tangled power has become in Washington. The Supreme Court depends on Congress for money to stay safe, yet it can strike down laws that lawmakers pass. In the current climate, both conservatives and liberals blame the “deep state” and entrenched elites for putting their own security and comfort first. When justices must plead for protection from the same politicians they sometimes anger, it reinforces a growing belief that the system mostly works to guard the powerful from the public, not the other way around.
Sources:
youtube.com, cnbc.com, heredetroitmi.com, foxnews.com, abajournal.com, rawstory.com
