For the first time since 2019, two Supreme Court justices - Amy Coney Barrett and Elena Kagan - appeared before a House panel on July 14, 2026, specifically, the House panel responsible for financial services and general government appropriations, to discuss the court's budget.
The main reason was the court's budget request for the 2027 fiscal year.
Barrett told the subcommittee the situation is serious.
Barrett did not sugarcoat it. "The threat level is really high," she said.
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She gave a very personal account. A "swatting" incident happened at her home.
During a swatting incident, someone deceives law enforcement by reporting a false emergency - such as a shooting or loud arguments - at a person's residence.
Later, a draft opinion was leaked that overturned the Court's prior ruling establishing a constitutional protection for abortion. After that leak, Barrett stated, "I was given a bulletproof vest by my security."
"Those statistics sound abstract, but being on the receiving end of them is not," Barrett said.
The Supreme Court's security measures have faced heightened scrutiny after the controversial leak of the Dobbs draft opinion in 2022, which prompted protests outside justices' homes and led to an assassination attempt against Justice Brett Kavanaugh. The attempt featured an armed individual who drove to Kavanaugh's home carrying a handgun, ammunition, zip ties, and additional equipment, and later confessed to police that his plan was to assassinate the justice. The incident underscored the dangers justices face.
The elevated security risks have significantly altered the Court's daily operations. Following the Dobbs leak, the U.S. Marshals Service ramped up around-the-clock protection for all nine justices, and the Court implemented stricter screening of visitors and mail. Barrett's firsthand account of receiving a bulletproof vest and being targeted in a swatting call illustrates the personal toll of this ongoing security crisis - one that the requested $20.6 million increase aims to address through enhanced cybersecurity, building protections, and expanded personnel for justice safety.
This budget request comes amid ongoing concerns about the safety of federal judges across the country. In recent years, threats against judges have risen dramatically, prompting Congress to pass the Daniel Anderl Judicial Security Act in 2022, which expanded protection for judges and their families. The Supreme Court's own security measures have been upgraded multiple times since the Dobbs leak, including the installation of fencing around the building and increased screening of visitors. The requested funds would help sustain and enhance these protections.
The $228.4 million request for fiscal 2027 includes not only increased security for justices but also enhanced cybersecurity and building protections.
This story is still developing; check back later for the latest information.
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