Two Supreme Court Judges Tell Congress: "We Need More Money Because We’re in Danger"

What Is This All About?

Imagine the most important court in the country, called the Supreme Court. The people who work there are called justices (like super-judges). On a Tuesday in July 2026, two of these justices, Elena Kagan and Amy Coney Barrett, went to talk to a small team from the U.S. Congress (the group that makes laws and controls money). They were there to ask for money for the year 2027 and to talk about something scary: people being mean and dangerous to judges.

The Scene at the Meeting

• A photo shows Justices Kagan and Barrett sitting at a table on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on July 14, 2026, talking to the House Appropriations Committee (a fancy name for the group that handles money). The photo was taken by Finn Gomez for Getty Images.
• This meeting was with the Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government, which is like a smaller team inside the bigger money group.
• This is a big deal because Kagan and Barrett are the first Supreme Court justices to talk to Congress like this since 2019. Back then, Kagan and another justice, Samuel Alito, did the same thing for the court’s budget request.

What Justice Barrett Said About Safety

Barrett told the group that the "threat level" — which is just a way of saying how much danger there is — against her and other federal judges is "really high."

Important Point: She said, "Those statistics sound abstract, but being on the receiving end of them is not." That means numbers about threats might sound like boring facts, but when you are the person being threatened, it feels very real and scary.

She also shared two personal stories to show why she feels unsafe:

• Bulletproof vest: After a news outlet leaked information about a court decision that reversed an older rule saying people had a constitutional right to abortion (a medical choice), her security team gave her a bulletproof vest. That’s a special piece of clothing that can stop bullets.
• Swatting attack: She said someone recently played a terrible prank called "swatting." This is when a person calls the police and lies, saying there was a shooting and yelling at the judge’s home. The police then rush to the house thinking there’s an emergency, which is dangerous and scary.

How the Money Asking Works (Simple Steps)

1. The Supreme Court figures out how much it needs to stay safe and run.
2. It sends a request to Congress for fiscal year 2027 (the government’s "money year"): $228.4 million.
3. Congress listens to justices like Barrett and Kagan explain why the money is needed.
4. The small group (subcommittee) decides whether to give the money.

The court says the new amount is about 10% more than the $207.8 million given for 2026. The extra cash is mostly to pay for more safety things, like better security for the judges.

Breaking News Note: The original report said, "This is breaking news. Please refresh for updates." That means details might have changed after first posting.

Summary

To wrap it up in a nutshell:

• Two top judges, Justice Barrett and Justice Kagan, went to Congress on July 14, 2026.
• Barrett said judges are facing a lot of danger right now, and she shared stories of getting a bulletproof vest and being swatted.
• The court wants $228.4 million for 2027, which is 10% more than last year, mostly to pay for security.
• This was the first time justices testified since 2019, showing that even the highest court needs help staying safe.

FAQ (Questions You Might Have)

1. What is the Supreme Court, in kid terms?
It’s like the ultimate referee team for the country’s rules. If people disagree about what a law means, these judges make the final call.

2. What does "swatting" mean?
It’s a mean trick where someone calls 911 and lies about a violent emergency at someone’s house, causing police to show up with lots of force. It’s very dangerous and illegal.

3. Why do the justices need a bulletproof vest?
Because they received threats after a private court opinion was leaked to the news. The vest helps protect them from bullets if someone tries to hurt them.

4. What is a "budget request"?
It’s like when you tell your parents, "I need $10 for lunch and supplies." The court tells Congress, "We need this much money to run and stay safe next year."

5. Who are Elena Kagan and Amy Coney Barrett?
They are two of the nine judges on the Supreme Court. Kagan has been there since 2010, and Barrett since 2020. They both help decide big national issues.