Supreme Court Justices Kagan and Barrett to Testify on Budget Request
Supreme Court Justices Elena Kagan and Amy Coney Barrett will testify before House and Senate appropriations subcommittees on July 14, 2026, regarding the court’s fiscal 2027 budget request of $225.1 million. This marks the first such testimony since 2019. The hearings follow contentious rulings on tariffs and birthright citizenship, and are expected to address security funding, ethical concerns, and the 2022 Dobbs draft leak.
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Supreme Court Justices Kagan and Barrett Testify Before Congress on Budget Request
Supreme Court Justices Elena Kagan and Amy Coney Barrett, representing different ideological backgrounds, appeared together before Congress on Tuesday to testify on the high court's annual budget request for fiscal year 2027. The rare joint appearance saw the liberal and conservative justices sitting side by side in back-to-back hearings as they defended the court's approximately $228 million funding request. The hearing was notable not only for the bipartisan pairing but also because Supreme Court justices rarely testify before Congress directly. The budget request covers operational expenses for the federal judiciary's highest court. The event underscores ongoing discussions about judicial independence and congressional oversight of the judicial branch.
Just In NewsJustices Kagan and Barrett Request Increased Security Funding in Rare Congressional Testimony
Supreme Court Justices Elena Kagan and Amy Coney Barrett appeared together before Congress on Tuesday in a rare joint testimony, urging lawmakers to allocate additional funding to address the persistent rise in threats against themselves and their families. The two female justices, appointed by presidents from different political parties, highlighted the growing security challenges facing the judiciary. Their appearance underscores the heightened concerns over judicial safety amid a polarized political climate. The testimony marks an unusual instance of Supreme Court justices directly engaging with Congress on budgetary matters, reflecting the severity of the threat environment.
Just In NewsSupreme Court Justices Emphasize Need for Security Funding
Supreme Court Justices Elena Kagan and Amy Coney Barrett testified before House and Senate Appropriations subcommittees on July 14, 2026, emphasizing the urgent need for increased security funding amid rising threats. Barrett revealed personal impacts, including being sent home with a bulletproof vest seen by her 12-year-old son, receiving deliveries in the name of a murdered judge's son, and being the victim of a 'swatting' incident. Kagan reported threats against justices increased 38% in the past year after a 25% increase the prior year. The court requested a roughly 10% funding increase to $225.1 million for fiscal year 2027, with most funds going to security. The hearings also touched on judicial ethics, with Kagan expressing difficulty in establishing an enforcement mechanism for the court's voluntary ethics code, while Barrett indicated she was 'less certain' about internal enforcement.
Roll CallKagan and Barrett Face Senate Questions on Supreme Court Budget and Security
Supreme Court Justices Elena Kagan and Amy Coney Barrett testified before the Senate Appropriations Committee on Tuesday regarding the high court's $225 million fiscal 2027 budget request. The hearing focused on an additional $14.6 million requested for enhanced security measures to protect the justices. Earlier that day, the justices had faced similar questioning from the House. The testimony underscores ongoing concerns about judicial security and the court's operational funding needs.
Just In NewsSupreme Court Justices to Face Congress After Contentious Rulings
Supreme Court Justices Amy Coney Barrett and Elena Kagan are scheduled to testify before Senate and House appropriations subcommittees on July 14, 2026, to discuss the high court's fiscal 2027 budget request of $225.1 million. This marks the first time since 2019 that justices will appear before House members and the first Senate hearing since 2011. The hearings come two weeks after the court issued several contentious rulings, including decisions that rejected President Donald Trump's tariff regime and his attempt to redefine citizenship via executive order. While the hearings are budget-focused, justices are expected to face questions about recent cases and institutional ethics. The court has faced scrutiny from Democrats over alleged ethical lapses and from Republicans over the failure to identify the leaker of the Dobbs abortion decision draft. Security concerns remain high following protests and an assassination attempt against Justice Kavanaugh.
Roll CallSupreme Court Justices to Face Congress After Contentious Rulings
Supreme Court Justices Amy Coney Barrett and Elena Kagan are scheduled to testify before Senate and House appropriations subcommittees on July 14, 2026, marking the first time since 2019 that justices will appear before lawmakers. The hearings, focused on the court's fiscal 2027 budget request of $225.1 million (a 10% increase), come two weeks after the court issued several contentious rulings, including decisions that rejected President Donald Trump's tariff regime and his attempt to redefine citizenship via executive order. Democrats are expected to question justices about alleged ethical lapses, while Republicans may raise concerns about the failure to identify the leaker of the Dobbs abortion decision draft. The hearings were rescheduled from May due to scheduling conflicts. The last House appearance by justices was in 2019, and the last Senate appearance was in 2011.
Roll CallSupreme Court Justices to Face Congress After Contentious Rulings
Supreme Court Justices Amy Coney Barrett and Elena Kagan are scheduled to testify before Senate and House appropriations subcommittees on July 14, 2026, marking the first time since 2019 that justices will appear before Congress. The hearings, focused on the Supreme Court's fiscal 2027 budget request of $225.1 million, come two weeks after the court issued several contentious rulings, including decisions that rejected President Donald Trump's tariff regime and his attempt to redefine citizenship. Democrats are expected to question justices about alleged ethical lapses, while Republicans may raise concerns about the leak of the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization draft opinion. The hearings were rescheduled from May due to scheduling conflicts. The last House appearance by justices was in 2019, and the last Senate appearance was in 2011.
Roll CallSupreme Court Justices Kagan and Barrett to Testify Before House Subcommittee on Budget Request
Supreme Court Justices Elena Kagan and Amy Coney Barrett are scheduled to testify on July 14 before a House Appropriations subcommittee regarding the high court's fiscal 2027 budget request. This will be the first time Supreme Court justices have testified to Congress since 2019, when Kagan and Samuel Alito appeared before the same panel. The hearing comes two weeks after the court issued its final opinions for the 2025-26 term, which included rulings on birthright citizenship and a case barring President Donald Trump from firing Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook. While the justices are not expected to discuss those opinions, the testimony will address security funding needs, which have grown since the 2022 leak of the Dobbs draft opinion and subsequent threats against justices. Kagan was appointed by President Barack Obama, Barrett by President Donald Trump.
US Top News and AnalysisJustices Kagan and Barrett to Testify Before House Subcommittee on Supreme Court Budget
Supreme Court Justices Elena Kagan and Amy Coney Barrett are scheduled to testify before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government on July 14 regarding the high court's annual budget request. The announcement was made by Subcommittee Chair Tom Cole (R-Okla.). The hearings will take place separately on Capitol Hill, marking a rare instance of Supreme Court justices appearing before Congress to discuss funding needs.
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