Supreme Court Justices Elena Kagan and Amy Coney Barrett testified before the House and Senate Appropriations Committees regarding increased security funding for the Supreme Court. The justices discussed various topics including security threats, the emergency docket, and the court's code of ethics during separate hearings held on July 14, 2026.
The Supreme Court has requested a budget of approximately $228 million for fiscal year 2027, which is a 10% increase from the previous year. This budget includes $14.6 million aimed at enhancing personal protection for the justices by adding six more agents per justice. Barrett highlighted the heightened security threats following the leak of a draft opinion in the case of Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, mentioning an incident where she had to explain a bulletproof vest to her son.
Kagan noted that the security needs of the justices have significantly increased, citing both the number and intensity of threats. She stated that the court has expanded its residential security and cybersecurity resources in response to these challenges.
The justices also addressed concerns regarding the emergency docket, with Kagan acknowledging the complexity of the process and the need for transparency. Additionally, Democrats in both committees questioned the justices about the enforcement of the court's code of conduct, with Kagan expressing support for an enforcement mechanism while Barrett raised concerns about its complexity.
Lawmakers also inquired about the 2022 leak of the Dobbs draft opinion, but Kagan indicated that there was no new information available regarding the investigation. Both justices emphasized the importance of maintaining the confidentiality of the court's deliberations.
Finally, both committees expressed a desire for justices to testify more frequently about budgetary concerns, as the last appearance of justices before Congress was in 2019 for the House and 2011 for the Senate, excluding confirmation hearings.