Story perspectives

Kagan, Barrett Testify on $225M FY27 Budget Increase

7/8/2026

Summary

Story summary

Justices Elena Kagan and Amy Coney Barrett will testify before House Financial Services Appropriations Subcommittee on July 14 about fiscal 2027 budget request.
The request totals $225.1 million, about a ten-percent increase over fiscal 2026 funding, and allocates $207 million for salaries and $18.1 million for building maintenance.
Lawmakers may also question the justices on recent rulings as the federal judiciary seeks $9.7 billion for the next fiscal year, about $500 million more than current funding.

History

Historical Context

Discretionary spending, which funds agencies like the Justice Department, has risen each decade, reaching $910 billion in FY 2022. After a notable 2009 boost from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the 2024 hearing of Justices Kagan and Barrett sought a $225.1 million, 10 % increase for FY 2027. This mirrors the long-standing pattern of annual appropriations shaping court capacity.

1 of 2

Story summary

Justices Elena Kagan and Amy Coney Barrett will testify before House Financial Services Appropriations Subcommittee on July 14 about fiscal 2027 budget request.
The request totals $225.1 million, about a ten-percent increase over fiscal 2026 funding, and allocates $207 million for salaries and $18.1 million for building maintenance.
Lawmakers may also question the justices on recent rulings as the federal judiciary seeks $9.7 billion for the next fiscal year, about $500 million more than current funding.

1 / 2