Judicial leaders ask Congress for $9.4 billion, warn of rising cyberattacks and defender funding shortfall

Judicial Conference witnesses told a House subcommittee on oversight of the federal courts that the judiciary is seeking $9.4 billion for fiscal year 2026 to shore up court security, modernize aging information technology and restore payments to attorneys who represent indigent defendants.

"An effective and efficient judiciary is foundational to our system of government. Adequate and consistent funding is absolutely critical to conduct our constitutional and statutory responsibilities," Judge Amy St. Eve said, testifying as chair of the Judicial Conference Committee on the Budget.

The request includes roughly $6.9 billion for courts and probation/pretrial services, $1.8 billion for defender services and about $892 million for the court security program, St. Eve said. She told the panel that more than 85% of the proposed increase for courts and probation reflects adjustments to maintain current services, with the remainder for staffing, space and IT investments.

"In that CR, every component of the branch was held to its fiscal year 24 enacted funding level regardless of changing requirements, and for most of our accounts, this is the second straight year of a freeze," St. Eve said,…