A sweeping stopgap funding measure unveiled by U.S. lawmakers has earmarked over $25 million to enhance security for the homes of the nine Supreme Court justices, addressing escalating threats against federal judges.
Buried within a 1,547-page temporary funding bill aimed at preventing a government shutdown, the provision allocates $12 million to the U.S. Marshals Service and nearly $13.6 million directly to the Supreme Court to fortify residential protections. This move partially fulfills requests made earlier this year to transition security responsibilities to the court’s in-house police force.
The urgency behind these measures stems from a marked rise in threats against federal judges nationwide, with incidents nearly doubling between fiscal years 2021 and 2023. High-profile cases, including a foiled assassination attempt on Justice Brett Kavanaugh and threats targeting other justices, have intensified the spotlight on judicial safety.
This funding follows a broader push by Congress in 2022 to expand police protections for the families of justices, spurred by protests and security concerns after the leak of a draft opinion overturning Roe v. Wade.
While lawmakers scramble to pass the funding bill before a looming government shutdown, the judiciary has reassured that court operations could continue for several weeks using reserve funds. As threats persist, the enhanced security funding underscores the growing challenges of safeguarding the nation’s top judicial officials in an increasingly polarized landscape.
