Supreme Court Justices Amy Coney Barrett and Elena Kagan are scheduled to testify before Congress on July 14, 2026, marking the first such appearance since 2019. They will appear before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government and the Senate Appropriations Committee to discuss the Court's fiscal year 2027 budget request.
The Supreme Court has requested a $20.6 million increase in its budget for fiscal year 2027, totaling over $228 million. A significant portion of this request, approximately $14.6 million, is allocated for enhanced security measures for the justices, both at the Court and their residences, in response to rising threats against judicial figures.
This joint appearance by Justices Barrett and Kagan is notable, as it is the first time since 2019 that members of the Supreme Court have testified before a congressional committee. Their testimony comes after a contentious term, during which the Court issued several high-profile decisions, including those affecting campaign finance, presidential authority, voting rights, and immigration.
The hearings are expected to focus primarily on budgetary matters, but lawmakers may also address recent Court decisions. The last House hearing featuring members of the high court occurred in 2019, when Justices Kagan and Samuel Alito testified on the Court’s budget request. The last Senate hearing with sitting justices was in 2011, when former Justices Stephen Breyer and Antonin Scalia discussed the constitutional role of the federal judiciary.
The Supreme Court's budget request includes funding for building and grounds maintenance, with more than one-third of that funding designated for the design of an exterior visitor screening facility recommended following security assessments.
This rare appearance underscores the importance of judicial security and the Court's role in the federal government, especially in light of recent contentious rulings.