Two Supreme Court justices just crossed the street urging Congress to approve for more protection from rising threats against judges and their families.

Story Snapshot

• Justices Amy Coney Barrett and Elena Kagan made a rare trip to Capitol Hill to defend a major security funding request.
• The Supreme Court is seeking about $20 million more for 2027, including roughly $14.6 million for security upgrades and protection.
• Recent swatting incidents and bomb threats involving Barrett’s family show that danger now reaches justices’ homes, not just the courthouse.
• Lawmakers must balance rising violence against judges with deep public anger over government spending and elite self-protection.

Rare Supreme Court Appearance Before Congress

Supreme Court Justices Amy Coney Barrett and Elena Kagan appeared before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government to discuss the Court’s budget and security needs, marking their first congressional budget appearance in several years. This kind of appearance is unusual and signals that the Court believes the security situation is serious. The justices also plan to speak to a Senate Appropriations panel, tying their message to both chambers of Congress.

The Supreme Court is asking for more than $228 million in discretionary funding for fiscal year 2027, roughly $20 million more than the previous year. Of that increase, about $14.6 million is set aside for security enhancements, including protection at justices’ homes and for their families. Reports note an additional $2 million specifically for home security costs, highlighting a shift from focusing only to protecting justices and their families away from the courthouse.

Why Justices Say They Need More Security

News reports show that threats against judges and Supreme Court justices have climbed sharply in recent years. After the leak of a draft opinion to overturn Roe v. Wade in 2022, an armed man was arrested near Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s home and charged with trying to assassinate him. Mass protests also formed outside the homes of several conservative justices during that time, pushing political anger literally onto their doorsteps.

Justice Barrett has faced direct threats that go beyond angry letters or online posts. Police in Northern Virginia responded in May to a fake report of gunfire at her home, a “swatting” call meant to trigger a major law enforcement response. Last year, officers in South Carolina investigated a pipe bomb threat at her sister’s mailbox, which turned out to be a hoax but still required a serious response. These incidents were cited as examples of why more money is being requested for home and family protection.

Security Costs, Public Anger, and the Deep State Fear

The broader judiciary is seeking about $920.9 million to fund front-line security officers at every federal courthouse, an increase of roughly $29 million from the prior year. Supporters say this is needed because the United States Marshals Service has reported hundreds of threats against federal judges in a single year. From their view, the money is not a luxury but a way to keep judges safe enough to do their jobs without fear of attack.

Supreme Court Justices Elena Kagan and Amy Coney Barrett are set to testify before Congress today.

The hearing will be focused on the court’s request for a $16.6 million budget increase to bolster security for the justices at work and at home. https://t.co/rsSro1XH1S

— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) July 14, 2026

Some Americans see Washington asking for additional protection for public officials while many communities continue facing crime and economic pressure. They see elites in Washington asking for millions more to guard themselves while ordinary families struggle with high prices, weak wages, and unsafe neighborhoods. People who already distrust federal institutions may see the request as another example of Washington prioritizing government officials over broader public concerns. That frustration can make any new funding request, even for real security needs, look like more of the same.

The political setting makes this hearing even more tense. Republicans control Congress and the White House, and many voters angry about overspending want to cut budgets wherever they can. At the same time, liberals worry that growing threats and harsh rhetoric are eroding equal justice under law. Both sides see a government that often fails to solve basic problems but always finds more money for itself. This rare testimony by Barrett and Kagan sits right in the middle of those fears: judges say they are at risk, yet the country is not sure it trusts Washington to handle danger without abusing power or wasting cash.

Sources:

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