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Supreme Court of the United States 

Salaries and Expenses 

FTE ($000) FTE ($000) FTE ($000)

FY 2019 Assumed Appropriation 9 2,663 513 84,703 522 87,366 

Adjustments to Base - 17 - 2,996 - 3,013 

Program Increases - - - - - - 

FY 2020 Appropriation Request 9 2,680 513 87,699 522 90,379 

FY 2020 Request

Mandatory Discretionary Total

The U.S. Supreme Court requests $90.4 million ($2.7 million for mandatory expenses and 

$87.7 million for discretionary expenses) in FY 2020 for the Salaries and Expenses account. 

The $87.7 million request for discretionary appropriations represents a 3.5 percent increase over 

the FY 2019 assumed discretionary appropriation. For this account, the FY 2019 discretionary 

appropriations assumption is $84.7 million, which is the same as the FY 2019 House mark and 

FY 2019 Senate mark. This request reflects the necessary adjustments to base to maintain 

current services. The Court requests no program increases for FY 2020. 

I. Mandatory Adjustments to Base

The FY 2020 request includes $17,000 for standard pay increases and changes in benefits for the 

Chief Justice and the Associate Justices. 

II. Discretionary Adjustments to Base 

The Supreme Court requests a $3.0 million increase for discretionary expenses in FY 2020 for 

standard pay and other inflationary adjustments. 

III. Appropriations Language 

Supreme Court of the United States 

Salaries and Expenses 

For expenses necessary for the operation of the Supreme Court, as required by law, excluding 

care of the building and grounds, including hire of passenger motor vehicles as authorized by 

31 U.S.C. 1343 and 1344; not to exceed $10,000 for official reception and representation 

expenses; and for miscellaneous expenses, to be expended as the Chief Justice may approve, 

[$84,703,000]$87,699,000, of which $1,500,000 shall remain available until expended. 

In addition, there are appropriated such sums as may be necessary under current law for salaries 

of the chief justice and associate justices of the court. 
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(H.R. 6147 - Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, 2019, updated to 

reflect the judiciary’s FY 2019 assumed appropriation.) 

IV. Summary of Obligations 

Category

FY 2018

Actual

FY 2019

Assumed

Obligations/

Appropriation

FY 2020

Request

Requested

Increase/

Decrease

Compensation and Benefits 62,637 67,492 70,104 2,612 

Rent, Communications and Utilities 763 1,229 1,257 28 

Travel 800 1,338 1,365 27 

Other 18,661 17,307 17,653 346 

Total Obligations 82,861 87,366 90,379 3,013 

Other Adjustments 1,818 - - - 

Available Appropriation 84,679 87,366 90,379 3,013 

 Mandatory Appropriation 2,651 2,663 2,680 17 

 Discretionary Appropriation 82,028 84,703 87,699 2,996 

U.S. Supreme Court - Salaries and Expenses

Comparative Summary of Obligations by Category

($000)
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Supreme Court of the United States 

Care of the Building and Grounds 

FTE ($000)

FY 2019 Assumed Appropriation 53 15,999 

Adjustments to Base 1 (3,808) 

Program Increases - 4,199 

FY 2020 Appropriation Request 54 16,390 

FY 2020 Request

Discretionary

The U.S. Supreme Court requests $16.4 million for its Care of the Building and Grounds account 

in FY 2020, a 2.4 percent increase over the FY 2019 assumed appropriation. For this account, 

the FY 2019 appropriations assumption is $16.0 million, which is the same as the FY 2019 

House mark and the FY 2019 Senate mark. 

The Architect of the Capitol provides for the structural and mechanical care of the U.S. Supreme 

Court Building and Grounds, including maintenance and operation of mechanical, electrical, and 

electronic equipment. This request includes the necessary adjustments to base to maintain 

current services, including the annualization of two positions (1 FTE) assumed to be funded in 

FY 2019. Additionally, it also includes program increases for the next phase of upgrades to the 

Court’s electrical systems and critical infrastructure as well as a small-scale construction and 

renovation design project. 

I. Discretionary Adjustments to Base 

The Supreme Court requests a net decrease of $3.8 million. The request consists of an increase 

of $0.4 million for standard pay and other inflationary adjustments as well as the annualization of 

two positions (1 FTE) assumed to be funded in FY 2019 offset by a decrease of $4.2 million for 

non-recurring costs associated with the initial phase of the electrical systems and critical 

infrastructure project. 

Program Increases 

The FY 2020 budget request for the Building and Grounds account includes $4.2 million for 

program increases. 
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1. Electrical Resiliency and Critical Infrastructure Improvement Project: $4.0 million 

The Court requests $4.0 million for the next phase of funding to upgrade the Court’s 

electrical systems and other critical infrastructure. The goal of this multi-phase project is to 

increase service reliability and maintainability. 

2. Fountain and Paver Restoration Design: $0.2 million 

The Court requests $0.2 million for the analysis and design to restore seven historic fountains 

at the Supreme Court, which includes supporting mechanical and electrical systems and 

surrounding walkways. This project will design systems that meet current health and safety 

codes. It is anticipated that project funding will be requested in a future year budget request. 

II. Appropriations Language 

Supreme Court of the United States 

Care of the Building and Grounds 

For such expenditures as may be necessary to enable the Architect of the Capitol to carry out the 

duties imposed upon the Architect by 40 U.S.C. 6111 and 6112, [$15,999,000]$16,390,000, to 

remain available until expended. 

(H.R. 6147 - Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, 2019, updated to 

reflect the judiciary’s FY 2019 assumed appropriation.) 

III. Summary of Obligations 

Category

FY 2018

Actual

FY 2019

Assumed

Obligations/

Appropriation

FY 2020

Request

Requested

Increase/

Decrease

Compensation and Benefits 5,411 5,676 6,003 327 

Rent, Communications and Utilities 2,163 2,180 2,195 15 

Other 5,588 12,209 10,362 (1,847) 

Total Obligations 13,162 20,065 18,560 (1,505) 

Other Adjustments 2,991 (4,066) (2,170) 1,896 

Available Appropriation 16,153 15,999 16,390 391