Supreme Court Justices to Deliver Rare Congressional Testimony Next Week
Washington, D.C., Tuesday, 7 July 2026.
For the first time since 2019, Supreme Court Justices will testify before Congress, addressing a budget request that includes increased funding for their security.
A Historic Return to Capitol Hill
On Tuesday, July 7, 2026, Representative Tom Cole (R-Okla.), the chair of the House Appropriations Committee, announced that Supreme Court Justices Elena Kagan and Amy Coney Barrett will deliver testimony before Congress next week [2][4]. Scheduled for Tuesday, July 14, 2026, the two justices are set to appear in two separate hearings on Capitol Hill [2]. They will first testify before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government, followed by a scheduled appearance before the Senate Appropriations Committee that same afternoon [2]. This development marks a highly anticipated interaction between the federal judiciary and legislative branches, focusing on the operational needs of the nation’s highest court [GPT].
Breaking a Seven-Year Intermission
The upcoming appearance by Justices Kagan and Barrett on July 14, 2026, represents the first time Supreme Court justices have testified before congressional appropriators since 2019 [1][2][3]. In that previous instance, Justice Kagan was joined by Justice Samuel Alito to discuss the court’s budget request with the same House subcommittee [1]. The scheduled July 2026 hearings will occur shortly after the conclusion of the Supreme Court’s 2025-26 term, which officially ended on June 29, 2026 [1]. This timing provides lawmakers a fresh opportunity to engage with representatives of the judiciary following a term marked by high-profile decisions [GPT].
Inside the Fiscal 2027 Budget Request
At the center of next week’s hearings is the annual budget request for the federal judiciary [2]. The Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts has requested a total of $9.7 billion for its fiscal 2027 discretionary budget [2]. This comprehensive request includes $826.5 million in mandatory appropriations specifically designated for judicial salaries and judicial retirement funds [2]. Subtracting these mandatory components from the total discretionary request (which equals $9,700 million) leaves a remaining balance of $8,873.5 million, represented by the calculation 8873.5 million, to cover other operational and administrative costs of the federal court system [2].
Earmarking Millions for Enhanced Security
A significant portion of the fiscal 2027 budget request is dedicated to addressing the growing security challenges faced by the judiciary [2]. Specifically, the budget proposal includes a $14.6 million funding boost for the Supreme Court Police, which is earmarked for “protective activities” directly related to securing the justices’ private homes and families [2]. Additionally, the Administrative Office is asking Congress for $920.9 million to fund the deployment of front-line security officers at every federal courthouse across the United States, citing a worrying nationwide rise in threats targeted at federal judges [2].
The Escalating Threat Landscape
The emphasis on robust security funding is directly tied to a sequence of escalating threats against members of the judiciary over the past several years [GPT]. Security measures for the nine Supreme Court justices were heavily reinforced starting in May 2022, immediately following the public leak of a draft opinion authored by Justice Alito concerning the reversal of Roe v. Wade [1]. The reality of these threats was underscored on June 8, 2022, when 26-year-old Nicholas Roske was arrested outside Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s Maryland home [1]. Roske was found in possession of a handgun, knife, pepper spray, and burglary tools, admitting an intent to kill the justice due to the anticipated abortion ruling [1].
Evaluating Past Security Allocations
In response to these safety concerns, Congress previously approved emergency security enhancements [GPT]. Justice Samuel Alito expressed gratitude to lawmakers for providing the Supreme Court with a “substantial amount of additional security funding” in previous cycles [1]. Alito noted that the court has been “carefully and deliberately putting those new funds to work based on a top-to-bottom review of our current practices by highly regarded and experienced security experts” [1]. The upcoming testimony on July 14, 2026, will allow Congress to evaluate how those previous funds were utilized and assess the necessity of the newly requested increases [GPT].
Political Dynamics and Recent Rulings
The budget hearings will also take place against a backdrop of intense political scrutiny following the conclusion of the Supreme Court’s 2025-26 term on June 29, 2026 [1]. During this term, the court issued several highly watched decisions, including a ruling that upheld birthright citizenship [1]. In addition, the court decided by a narrow 5-4 vote to prevent the firing of Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, while simultaneously permitting the firing of FTC Commissioner Rebecca Slaughter in a separate ruling [1]. These major decisions, touching on key administrative and constitutional principles, ensure that the justices’ public testimony will be closely watched by both political parties and policy experts alike [GPT].