Supreme Court Justices Elena Kagan and Amy Coney Barrett appear before the House Appropriations panel on Tuesday to discuss the Supreme Court’s fiscal 2027 budget request and related needs. The Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts is seeking $9.7 billion for its discretionary budget for fiscal 2027, including $826.5 million in mandatory appropriations for judicial salaries and judicial benefits. Separate reporting describes the justices’ testimony as unusually rare, noting they are the first to appear before lawmakers since 2019.

Multiple outlets report that the testimony includes a request for additional funding to address heightened security concerns. CBS and CNBC describe the justices emphasizing increased threats and characterize the threat environment as high. The New York Times adds that lawmakers may raise questions beyond the budget, reflecting broader concerns tied to the Supreme Court and security.

The hearings take place in back-to-back sessions, with both justices outlining the court’s funding needs, including spending priorities connected to security and protection as threats against members of the judiciary increase.