The Supreme Court said it will replace the U.S. Marshals Service with an expanded in-house police force to protect its justices.

The Marshals Service, part of the Department of Justice, has historically provided security for the justices and federal judges. Under Chief Justice John Roberts, the court adopted the unitary executive theory, giving the president direct authority over the DOJ. A 2024 decision in Trump v. United States affirmed that the attorney general acts as the president’s chief law enforcement officer, prompting the court to seek independent security.

The court intends to more than double the size of its police department, increasing staff from about 200 officers to over 400. Its 2027 budget request includes funds for a new command center, threat assessment, and 24-hour protection. Starting salaries for Supreme Court police range from $86,530 to $147,928, with bonuses up to $60,000 under three-year contracts.

Gabe Roth, director of the nonpartisan group Fix the Court, said the security request is necessary to avoid reliance on a politically influenced branch. He estimated that about 10 to 20 percent of the transition aims to give the justices greater control over their protection.

Threats against judges have risen, partly in response to rhetoric from former President Donald Trump and his administration. The Marshals Service has been assigned to other duties, such as immigration enforcement and security for Health and Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr, reducing its capacity for judicial protection.

In March 2025, the Marshals Service assisted the Department of Government Efficiency in gaining access to an agency slated for dissolution, raising questions about the appropriate use of its authority. The Justice Department later informed the Supreme Court that it would end residential security before the new police force was ready, leading the court to contract outside firms for protection.

Security at the Court has increased in recent years, with justices now traveling in armored vehicles and receiving round-the-clock protection. Public records indicate that Chief Justice John Roberts, Justice Elena Kagan, and Justice Clarence Thomas have used the Court police for travel for several years.

The Court’s rulings on firearm rights, including District of Columbia v. Heller (2008) and New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen (2022), have expanded individual gun access, which the justices say influences their security concerns. Justice Amy Coney Barrett noted that her child observed she wore a bulletproof vest, illustrating the personal impact of broader gun availability.

Barrett also described harassment directed at her and her family, including swatting hoaxes and threatening pizza deliveries, which she linked to the political climate after Trump’s return to office.

The Marshals Service continues to provide security to Kennedy, while its 2027 budget request includes $34 million for judicial security and $228 million for immigration enforcement and local crime operations. Kagan testified that the court’s growing isolation from the public contrasts with historical practices when justices served on regional circuits and interacted directly with community members.

The expansion of the Supreme Court’s security force reflects concerns about judicial independence and rising threats to judges, and it awaits congressional review as the court requests additional funding for its protective mission.