Supreme Court justices testify before Congress for $230M security budget
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Justice Kagan opening statement: Threats have come ‘very close’ to us
Threats against Supreme Court justices have come “very close” to members of the court, Justice Elena Kagan told House appropriators to defend the high court’s fiscal 2027 budget request.
“The Supreme Court Police expect a smaller but still substantial 38% annual increase in threats this year, which follows a 25% increase last year,” Kagan said in her opening statement Tuesday.
“For some of us, those threats have come very close, and all of us live with the knowledge that they may again materialize,” she added.
Kagan said the court is requesting an additional $14 million for salaries and expenses, a 7% increase, with recent budget growth driven largely by security.
“Aside from annual inflationary increases, recent growth in the Court’s budget has been almost entirely for security expenses,” Kagan said.
She said the court’s security posture has changed dramatically since she joined the bench in 2010, when the Supreme Court Police focused mostly on protecting the building and justices did not have the kind of personal security details they do now.
“We began expanding our security program in earnest in 2017, initially at the behest of members of Congress,” Kagan said.
She pointed to the Dobbs leak, online attacks and physical security vulnerabilities as reasons the court has expanded residential security, threat assessments, cybersecurity and officer staffing.
Kagan said the court’s approach has been to “expand incrementally but effectively to meet evolving security challenges.”
Still, she said the justices remain committed to their work.
“All members of the Court continue to do their jobs as they believe legally right, adjudicating cases without fear or favor,” Kagan said.
Notaby, Kagan stressed to keep the House lawmakers questions focused on the budget request and not recent or pending Supreme Court decisions.
“While we cannot comment on decisions or pending cases, Justice Barrett and I are happy to answer any budget-related questions you have,” she said.
