Government Relations Update

On Friday, May 1, outside counsel facilitated a meeting for FBA leaders and judges with Micah Fielden, the senior counsel to the Associate Attorney General, to share FBA’s views on how best to implement the Daniel Anderl Act state and local grant program.  The May 1 discussion furthered a conversation FBA leaders began earlier this year in a meeting with senior program officials within the Office of Justice Programs at DOJ, which is charged with implementing this new grant program.  Based on this May 1 meeting, we expect to continue the dialogue with DOJ officials about the grant program, as well as about the deployment of U.S. Marshals, which the participating judges also raised during the meeting.

The judiciary requested $9.7 billion in funding for FY 2027. On April 22, 2026, the full House Appropriations Committee approved Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) legislation that would provide a total of $9.6 billion in discretionary funding for operations of the Judiciary, an increase of $381 million above fiscal year 2026, but $36 million below the request. FBA advocacy before and during Capitol Hill Day may have helped incrementally in the effort to secure funding levels so close to the Judiciary’s request.

Of the total provided, the bill includes:

• Courts of Appeals, District Courts, and Other Judicial Services – $6.4 billion, an increase of $312 million above fiscal year 2026 and equal to the amount requested.
• Defender Services – $1.8 billion, an increase of $27 million above fiscal year 2026 and equal to the amount requested.
• Court Security – $921 million, $29 million above fiscal year 2026 and equal to the amount requested.

The Senate has not yet released draft FSGG legislative text.

Federal Judgeships Legislation

Senator Todd Young continues to work behind the scenes on possible introduction of a new revised JUDGES Act.  It is unclear whether it will again be bipartisan. There are no developments to report regarding judgeships legislation in the House.

Thirty-four of 890 active federal judicial positions, including the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, the U.S. Court of International Trade, and the United States territorial courts, are currently vacant. Ten more judicial vacancies are expected through January 2, 2027, with six nominees named in advance.