Barrett, Kagan Set to Testify Before Congress July 14

Supreme Court Justices Amy Coney Barrett and Elena Kagan are set to testify before Congress on Tuesday, July 14, marking the first time sitting justices have appeared before lawmakers since 2019.

What Happened?

According to the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government, Barrett and Kagan will testify on July 14 about the Supreme Court's budget request for fiscal year 2027. The pair will also appear that same afternoon before the Senate Appropriations Committee, Politico reported.

Roll Call reported that the Supreme Court is requesting $225.1 million for fiscal 2027, an increase of roughly 10 percent over the prior year's funding. CNN reported the wider judiciary is seeking nearly $921 million for security, a $29 million increase, along with a boost of close to $15 million to expand police protection for justices and their families at home.

Why This Testimony Is Rare

The last time a Supreme Court justice testified before the House was in 2019, when Kagan and Justice Samuel Alito addressed the court's budget request, according to CNBC. The last Senate hearing with sitting justices took place in 2011. Justices rarely appear before Congress, and most of their public appearances are scripted events rather than open question-and-answer sessions.

CNN reported that security concerns have driven much of this year's funding request. Incidents involving judges that the U.S. Marshals Service classified as serious grew by 57 percent in 2025. Barrett has reportedly been the target of several threats herself, including an attempted swatting incident at her home in May.

Political Context

The hearings come shortly after the Supreme Court closed a closely watched term, issuing rulings on birthright citizenship and a case involving the president's power to remove independent agency officials. CNN reported that congressional aides expect some lawmakers to ask questions that go beyond the budget topic, though it remains unclear whether the justices will address it during the hearings.

What Happens Next

Barrett and Kagan are expected to appear before the House panel and the Senate committee on Tuesday afternoon. Neither justice is expected to discuss the court's recent rulings directly, according to CNBC, since the hearings are formally focused on the judiciary's funding request.