Supreme Court Justices Request Increased Funding for Executive Protection

Justices urge Congress to expand protective details and cybersecurity measures to combat rising threats and guard against agent burnout.

• By Jesse Jacobs
• Jul 28, 2026

In testimony before Congress, U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justices Elena Kagan and Amy Coney Barrett requested a substantial budget increase to overhaul personal security details for members of the bench, according to reporting by Megan Gates for Security Management.

The justices outlined a $210.3 million funding request for fiscal year 2027, as detailed in the official Supreme Court budget document. The plan allocates $40 million specifically toward safeguarding justices from physical threats and $18 million toward defending internal operations from cyber threats.

Reporting from Gates notes that Barrett described daily personal security details as a modern necessity. The testimony revealed recent harassment campaigns targeting the justices, including swatting calls, hostile home deliveries and elevated threat levels that escalated following high-profile judicial leaks and a past assassination attempt against Associate Justice Brett Kavanaugh.

Industry experts cited by Security Management emphasize that justices represent soft targets due to their high visibility and long-standing historical norms of operating without visible security. Jonathan Wackrow, managing director of SRG Risk, explained to the outlet that heightened political tension, lifetime appointments and social media doxxing have created a permissive environment for personal targeting.

For decades, the court operated with minimal protective infrastructure. Following recommendations after the 2016 death of Associate Justice Antonin Scalia, the U.S. Marshals Service initially filled protective gaps. However, as Gates reported for Security Management, the agency notified the court in 2024 that sustained support was unfeasible, shifting primary responsibility to the Supreme Court Police Department.

Currently, justices rely on small teams of four to eight personnel consisting of police officers and contract workers. Both Kagan and Barrett testified that these small details force officers to work back-to-back shifts, raising severe concerns over fatigue and operational burnout.

Caleb Gilbert, founder and CEO of White Glove Protection Group, told Security Management that agent burnout is a pervasive issue across executive protection. Managing rotation schedules and prioritizing mental health are crucial to sustaining high-level protective coverage.

Kagan stated during testimony that the ultimate goal is reaching 477 staff officers to establish dedicated 12-person protective details per justice, eliminating reliance on temporary contract staff. As Security Management highlighted, long-term personnel continuity allows security teams to build trust and establish baseline familiarity with a principal's routine, making it easier to spot environmental anomalies.

Beyond physical security, Security Management underscored the growing necessity of logical and digital protection. Kagan warned that unsecure digital infrastructure threatens the confidential deliberations required for judicial decision-making. Wackrow told the publication that technical surveillance countermeasures and digital security are now as vital to protecting the judiciary as physical bodyguards.

Recruiting and retaining qualified protective personnel remains an ongoing challenge across both public and private sectors. Gates reported that the court aims to keep pay competitive with other federal agencies while leveraging structured career pathways, specialized training and mission integrity to maintain a stable, dedicated workforce.