Justices Barrett and Kagan to face lawmakers after divisive Supreme Court term
Justices Barrett and Kagan to Face Congress After Divisive Term
Justices Barrett and Kagan to face lawmakers this week in a rare congressional appearance as the federal judiciary seeks tens of millions in enhanced security funding. Justice Amy Coney Barrett stands at the center of this effort, bringing personal experience with threats to the judicial branch’s concerns about safety.
Since President Donald Trump appointed Barrett to the Supreme Court nearly six years ago, she has encountered several alarming security incidents. The most recent involved a swatting attempt on her Virginia residence in May, which law enforcement successfully thwarted after identifying her as the intended target.
“She has firsthand experience with this issue,” said Gabe Roth, who leads Fix the Court, a group advocating for judicial transparency and reforms. “She’s a smart pick for the testimony.”
Political Context Adds Complexity
The timing of this congressional appearance carries particular weight. Just days before the hearings, the Supreme Court concluded a contentious term that invalidated two major Trump initiatives: the effort to end birthright citizenship and the imposition of worldwide tariffs. While Barrett typically aligns with conservative colleagues, she has encountered considerable pushback from right-leaning circles for supporting these rulings.
Whether this political friction will emerge during the Tuesday hearings remains unclear. According to congressional aides speaking with CNN, lawmakers are preparing questions designed to push both Justices Barrett and Kagan well beyond standard budget discussions.
Supreme Court justices rarely appear before Congress, with the most recent testimony occurring in 2019. Such appearances are typically carefully orchestrated events featuring federal judges as moderators and reverential audiences.
Security Funding Request Breakdown
The judicial branch’s financial appeal reflects mounting safety concerns. The judiciary has requested approximately $921 million for security purposes, representing a $29 million increase compared to the previous year. This allocation supports frontline security personnel stationed at federal courthouses nationwide.
Nearly $15 million of that total is designated to expand Supreme Court Police capabilities, enabling them to protect justices and their families at residential locations. The United States Marshals Service assumed responsibility for guarding justices’ homes in 2022, following the extraordinary leak of a draft opinion that would overturn Roe v. Wade. This arrangement was never intended to be permanent.
Overall, the judiciary is pursuing $9.7 billion in discretionary funding, marking a 4.5 percent increase over last year’s request.
Rising Threats and Personal Incidents
Security incidents involving judges that the Marshals Service categorized as “significant concern” surged by 57 percent during 2025. Both Justices Barrett and Kagan are expected to emphasize this upward trend during their testimony.
Barrett’s personal security history includes several notable episodes. Washington-area police responded to her Virginia suburbs home in May following what they classified as a false gunfire report. CNN subsequently revealed that Barrett’s residence was the target, though neither the justice nor the court officially confirmed the event.
Additionally, Barrett’s sister’s South Carolina home faced a bomb threat the previous year. In 2024, Barrett publicly discussed being sent home from the Supreme Court wearing a bulletproof vest, though the court never clarified the circumstances surrounding this protective measure.
The most prominent security incident involving any Supreme Court justice occurred in 2022, when Sophie Roske, then a Californian, traveled nationwide and arrived in Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s neighborhood carrying a bag filled with firearms and other weapons. Roske aimed to kill the justice and was later sentenced to slightly more than eight years in prison along with lifetime supervised release.
Roth expressed support for the increased funding, noting it “will help them hire the right amount of personnel and protection that they sadly but definitely need.” However, he cautioned that “it’s a precipitous increase and lawmakers have every right to want to examine rather than just giving the justices a blank check.”
The judiciary’s 2027 budget proposal represents the latest in a series of requests for enhanced security resources, resulting in a noticeably stronger security presence whenever the justices travel.
