Live Updates: Supreme Court Justices Barrett and Kagan Testify Before Congress on Security

Key Points:

• Justices Elena Kagan and Amy Coney Barrett are testifying before Congress for the first time in seven years, focusing on the Supreme Court’s $228 million budget request aimed at enhancing security amid rising threats against the judiciary.
• The budget proposal includes expanding the court’s police force, hiring cyber defense personnel, and designing a new facility to screen visitors outside the building, reflecting a significant increase in security measures since protests erupted after the 2022 abortion ruling.
• Threats against federal judges have surged, with over 600 reported in fiscal 2023 and a continuing upward trend, prompting Congress to consider increased funding for judicial security on a bipartisan basis.
• The hearing may extend beyond budget issues, as some Democrats push for reforms such as term limits and court expansion in response to controversial recent Supreme Court decisions that have reshaped policies on voting rights and presidential immunity.
• Justice Stephen Breyer previously dissented on closing the court’s main entrance to the public, emphasizing the importance of openness and access to justice, though current security assessments recommend exterior visitor screening due to escalating risks.