ATTORNEYS GENERAL URGE CONGRESS TO FULLY FUND SUPREME COURT SECURITY AMID ESCALATING THREATS
A bipartisan coalition of attorneys general, led by Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti, is pressing congressional leaders to fully fund the U.S. Supreme Court’s Fiscal Year 2027 security request. Citing a sharp 57 percent spike in significant security incidents for federal judges in FY 2025, the officials warn that escalating threats endanger judicial independence and the stability of the constitutional order.
Key Details of the Request
-
Funding Allocation: The Supreme Court’s request includes $14.6 million for expanded personal protection and building security, plus $2 million for an off-site command post to coordinate residential safety.
-
Bipartisan Backing: The letter was sent to top congressional leaders from both parties and signed by attorneys general from dozens of states and territories.
-
Heightened Dangers: Officials pointed to past violent plots, including a 2022 assassination attempt against Justice Brett Kavanaugh at his home and the tragic 2020 murder of Judge Esther Salas’s son.
“Threats of violence against our judges and their families are attacks on the independence of the judiciary and the stability of our constitutional order,” said Attorney General Skrmetti.
While acknowledging difficult federal spending choices, the coalition maintains that resource allocation is vital to ensuring Justices can rule based on the law free from fear.
