Associate Justices Elena Kagan and Amy Coney Barrett told lawmakers that the U.S. Supreme Court needs more security funding amid rising threats. The justices testified before the House Appropriations Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee, stating that the court’s budget has increased by 15% per year over the last five years, mostly due to safety concerns and inflation.

Security Threats on the Rise

Kagan said that security threats have steadily increased since 2017, with the Capitol Police Chief recently testifying that threats against Congress are up 50% this year. The Supreme Court police expect a 38% annual increase in threats this year, following a 25% increase last year.

Barrett noted that the justices have had to take additional security measures, including wearing bulletproof vests. "Maybe I lack imagination, but I didn’t expect that performing this service was going to put me in the position of explaining to my children what a bulletproof vest was and why I had to wear one," she said.

Proposed Security Funding Increase

The House subcommittee has approved a $28.9 million increase for security in the court’s annual funding bill. The Senate Appropriations Committee has not yet released its version of the bill. The justices are also seeking $6.5 million to build an external security screening center.

Kagan and Barrett emphasized the importance of judicial independence and the need for the court to be able to make decisions without fear of violence or intimidation. They also discussed the court’s ethics policy and the need for more dedicated police officers to provide security for the justices.

Original reporting: Clark County Today (Vancouver WA) — read the source article.