Supreme Court Justices Elena Kagan and Amy Coney Barrett are scheduled to testify before a House Appropriations subcommittee next Tuesday, marking a rare occasion for sitting justices to appear before Congress. This will be the first joint congressional testimony by Supreme Court members since 2019, when Justices Kagan and Samuel A. Alito Jr. testified together.

The upcoming hearing comes shortly after the conclusion of a contentious court term that drew significant public and political attention. Kagan, known for her liberal views, and Barrett, aligned with the court’s conservative wing, will address lawmakers overseeing the Judiciary’s budget, with a focus on the court’s funding request for fiscal year 2027.

The Supreme Court has proposed an overall budget increase of $20.6 million. A substantial portion of the requested funds—$14.6 million—is earmarked for enhanced security measures to protect the justices while at work, with an additional $2 million allocated for security upgrades at the justices’ private residences. Judicial security has become a particularly sensitive issue amid a rise in threats and violent incidents targeting judges in recent years.

While partisan divisions among the justices have grown more pronounced in public discourse, particularly through pointed commentary and dissents, neither Kagan nor Barrett has been among the court’s most vocally confrontational figures. Their joint appearance is expected to focus primarily on budgetary and security concerns, rather than delve into ideological debates.

Justice Clarence Thomas was observed recently visiting Capitol Hill but was not reported to be participating in any congressional testimony. The forthcoming hearing with Kagan and Barrett underscores the ongoing scrutiny of the judiciary’s needs and challenges amid a politically charged environment surrounding the Supreme Court.