Trump admin live updates: Justices Amy Coney Barrett, Elena Kagan to make rare Capitol Hill appearance
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Get the latest news on the Trump administration and national politics Monday as Supreme Court justices Amy Coney Barrett and Elena Kagan are set to make a rare appearance on Capitol Hill this week, on the heels of an especially divisive SCOTUS term.
The pair of justices — conservative Barrett (who was ripped by the GOP for siding with liberals on mail-in voting, birthright citizenship and global tariffs) and Kagan, one of those liberals — will face lawmakers Tuesday to back up the judiciary’s request for a $921 million security budget, an increase of nearly $29 million over last year, to beef up protection for the nine justices after recent security concerns.
Meanwhile, President Trump started his day by calling into “Fox & Friends,” discussing late Sen. Lindsey Graham’s legacy in Washington after the South Carolina Republican’s sudden death over the weekend.
Graham, 71, died Saturday night from an apparent aortic dissection due to cardiovascular disease. On Monday, Trump revealed the prominent, powerful foreign policy hawk’s “one bad moment” in more than two decades on Capitol Hill.
Follow The Post’s live updates for the latest news and analysis from Washington and beyond:
Supreme Court justices to make rare appearance before Congress this week
Supreme Court Justices Amy Coney Barrett and Elena Kagan make a rare Capitol Hill appearance on Tuesday to discuss the high court’s budget request for the next fiscal year.
Barrett and Kagan will both sit before the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Financial Services and General Government. They had initially been slated to appear in May, but that was postponed.
It will mark the first time sitting Supreme Court justices have sat before a House committee since 2019.
The high court is pursuing a beefed-up budget to deal with increasing security concerns, including nearly $15 million in increased funding for security for the justices. Meanwhile, the judiciary is seeking $921 million for security funding next fiscal year, marking a $29 million uptick in spending.
Overall, the justices are seeking a roughly $207 million budget, marking a $44 million increase from fiscal year 2026.
Memorial starts to form outside Sen. Lindsey Graham’s DC office with flowers and sticky note tributes: ‘True Patriot!
A memorial with flowers and sticky notes began to form Monday outside of Sen. Lindsey Graham’s DC office, following his sudden death over the weekend.
Sticky notes honoring the longtime South Carolina Republican senator read: “Thank you for your service,” “We will miss you,” “True Patriot!”, and “Amazing Brother.”
A memorial for the late Sen. Lindsey Graham is beginning to form outside his DC office. Ally Goelz/NY PostTributes to Graham outside his office. Ally Goelz/NY Post
Graham’s office door is closed, and there is no indication that his Capitol Hill staffers are working today.
Staff members speak in the hallway outside the office of the late US Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on July 13, 2026. REUTERSStaff members embrace in the hallway. REUTERS
The 71-year-old Graham passed away from an aortic dissection due to cardiovascular disease, shortly after returning from a trip to Ukraine, per preliminary findings from the DC medical examiner's office.
Sen. Gary Peters throws his weight behind Haley Stevens in Michigan Senate Dem primary
Incumbent Sen. Gary Peters formally endorsed Rep. Haley Stevens in the bruising Michigan Senate Democratic primary, backing her over Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, who is widely seen as the frontrunner.
"Colleen & I are all in for Haley Stevens for U.S. Senate. Michigan – and the country – can’t afford to lose this seat," Peters posted on X. "[Haley Stevens] is the fighter we need and she has the record to back it up. She’s won tough races and delivered for Michiganders. Let’s go win!"
Stevens and El-Sayed are locked in a neck-and-neck battle that has been emblematic of the broader tensions between the far left and the mainstream of the Democratic Party.
Both are running for Peters' seat. The incumbent senator had stayed neutral up until this point. Looming over his endorsement are concerns that El-Sayed would be less competitive in a general election matchup against Rep. Mike Rogers.
