Ranking Member Reed's Opening Statement at Appropriations FSGG Subcommittee Hearing of FY27 SCOTUS Budget

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Jack Reed, the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) Subcommittee, delivered an opening statement in the subcommittee's hearing on the U.S. Supreme Court's (SCOTUS) fiscal year 2027 budget request.  Addressing Associate Justices Elena Kagan and Amy Coney Barrett,  Reed examined the Court’s security funding request and underscored the need for an enforceable code of ethics at the nation’s highest court: SENAT OR REED: Well, thank you very much, Chairman Hagerty, and for convening this very important hearing, and I want to thank Justice Kagan and Justice Barrett for appearing before us. I also want to again note the passing of a dear colleague, Senator Lindsey Graham. I served in the House and the Senate with Lindsey, and I will describe him briefly as a passionate patriot. Indeed, he was that. Madam Justice, Madam Justice, this is a long overdue opportunity for us to question the members of the court about its budget and operations, and I'll stress budget and operations. This is, I believe, the first time since 2019 that a justice has testified before the Senate, and I would hope this would be an annual occurrence. The Supreme Court is, under our Constitution, the final arbitrator of the law of the land but it is still accountable to Congress for taxpayers funds, which you use to operate. And today's hearing is about your fiscal year 2027 budget request, a budget that's grown significantly in the last few years. We know, as the chairman has pointed out, that you have faced a series of threatening attempts, you and your colleagues, assassination attempts to online cyber security threats. We know that the number of threats are increasing each year, and it is a substantial justification for budget increases to protect the court and protect the Constitution. So, I look forward to hearing from both of you about these issues and the needs that you have to protect yourselves and your colleagues. In regard to these threats, the court created its own residential security operation, and Congress responded to the request with a $28 million appropriation. But weeks after that CR was signed, the court began privately lobbying for another $30 million. And we understand security is important, but we also understand that this should be an open process and that your request should come to us and the committee to be disposed of, as we typically do with all appropriations. And I would urge you to adopt that practice. This committee has responded to the court's request, as I said, for more money, and we hope to do it again. But I must point out that unless we have a top line budget, both domestic and defense, it's going to be difficult to fund domestic, particularly domestic agencies like the court. And I hope that Chair Collins and Vice Chair Murray will reach that point very soon. The other thing I would just point out is that, and I know this came up this morning, is that you have adopted a code of ethics.  But a code of ethics without effective enforcement is more aspirational than practical. And I would hope that this year in your budget request, you would include funds for enforcement structure as well as simply the code existing. I'm very honored we all are by your presence today, and I indeed look forward to listening to your responses and to cooperating with you so that we can strengthen the court and provide the support you need to carry out one of the most principal duties in America, which is making sure the Constitution is alive and well throughout the nation. Thank you very much.