Supreme Court Justices to Testify Before Congress
Next week, two justices from the Supreme Court will appear before Congress to discuss the court’s budget request for the upcoming fiscal year. This marks the first time since 2019 that members of the Supreme Court have engaged with lawmakers about annual funding.
Justices Amy Coney Barrett and Elena Kagan are scheduled to testify on July 14 before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government. House Appropriations Chair Tom Cole, a Republican from Oklahoma, confirmed the details in a recent announcement.
Cole also mentioned that this subcommittee is responsible for the appropriations bill that finances the Supreme Court’s operations.
On the same day, both justices will address the Senate Appropriations Committee, which is tasked with determining the budget allocations for various government agencies, programs, and military spending each year.
The Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts has requested $9.7 billion in discretionary funding for the federal judiciary for the fiscal year 2027. Additionally, they are asking for $826.5 million in mandatory appropriations to cover judicial salaries and retirement funds.
This budget includes an increase of $14.6 million aimed at enhancing the security of Supreme Court justices and their families. Given the rise in threats against the judiciary, there is also a request for $920.9 million to improve security staffing at federal courthouses nationwide.
This announcement has triggered a bipartisan call for further details on how the Supreme Court intends to manage these funds. Senior appropriators, according to reports, will prioritize discussions around the court’s operational costs rather than focusing on ongoing cases.
