Justice Amy Coney Barrett testified before the House Appropriations Committee on Tuesday, revealing the intense personal toll taken by the surge of threats against her and fellow Supreme Court justices. Barrett's children have been required to confront disturbing realities, she said, as a result of the increased threats.
Barrett recounted how her security detail provided her with a bulletproof vest, which she wore into her bedroom, prompting her 12-year-old son to ask what it was. The situation left her unsure of how to explain its purpose to her child.
The Supreme Court is seeking a 10% budget increase for fiscal year 2027, with $16.6 million dedicated to expanding security for justices. Barrett and Justice Elena Kagan testified before Congress, highlighting the need for increased security measures following the leaked Dobbs decision in 2022, which ruled that abortion was not a constitutional right.
Barrett described a swatting incident in May, in which someone fired gunshots at her home, prompting her teenage son and his friends to discover a street filled with police. Barrett credited the Supreme Court police with preventing a potentially disastrous situation.
The justices are also receiving anonymous packages sent in the name of Daniel Anderl, the 20-year-old son of U.S. District Court Judge Esther Salas, who was killed in 2020. Barrett called the message behind these deliveries clear, as federal judges continue to face a heightened threat level.
Justice Kagan emphasized the urgency behind the Supreme Court's push for more security funding, citing a 35% increase in threats in 2026, compared to a 25% increase the year prior. The justices' personal security costs are expected to reach $89 million, with Kagan noting that recent growth in the budget can be entirely attributed to security expenses.
Kagan recalled how Supreme Court justices did not receive around-the-clock personal protection until after Justice Antonin Scalia's death in 2016. The heightened focus on justices' security began following Scalia's death, with lawmakers pressing the court to improve its security measures.
The Supreme Court's push for increased security funding has been ongoing for a decade, with Kagan expressing gratitude to Congress for acknowledging the need for improved security measures.
