In a decisive move to enhance the safety of the U.S. Supreme Court justices, Congress has included over $25 million in a stopgap funding measure aimed at preventing a government shutdown. This legislation, unveiled late Tuesday, will provide critical resources to bolster security at the residences of the nine justices as they navigate an increasingly perilous environment.
The funding is part of a broader 1,547-page bill that Congress is racing to pass before the impending partial government shutdown set to begin this Saturday. President-elect Donald Trump has expressed opposition to the bill, urging the Republican-led House of Representatives to reject it, thereby raising concerns about a potential shutdown.
The judiciary has assured that, should funding lapse, court operations will continue for at least three weeks through January 10, utilizing court fee balances and other available funds. This stopgap measure comes as Congress grapples with its failure to pass a budget for the 2025 fiscal year, which began on October 1.
Significantly, the bill allocates $12 million to the U.S. Marshals Service for the protection of justices’ homes and nearly $13.6 million directly to the Supreme Court for enhanced security measures. This latter allocation aligns with earlier requests from the judiciary aimed at empowering the Supreme Court Police to take over residential security duties from the Marshals Service.
This increase in funding comes in response to a troubling rise in threats against judges nationwide. According to a recent investigation by Reuters, serious threats against federal judges surged from 224 in fiscal year 2021 to 457 in fiscal year 2023.
The urgency for enhanced protection was underscored by previous incidents, including protests outside justices’ homes following the controversial leak of a draft ruling that overturned *Roe v. Wade*. In response to these threats, Congress passed legislation in 2022 expanding police protection for justices and their families.
Notable cases include Nicholas Roske, who was charged with attempting to assassinate Justice Brett Kavanaugh, and Panos Anastasiou, who faces charges for threatening multiple justices and their families. Both men have pleaded not guilty.
As discussions continue around judicial safety and security funding, this latest measure reflects Congress’s commitment to safeguarding those who uphold justice in America.
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