Justice Alito Warns Of Court Defunding
Justice Alito warned Congress could cut Supreme Court funding and undermine judicial independence.
November 13, 2026 · Updated Nov 13, 2:25pm ET
HuffPostAlito Warns Congress Could 'Turn Off The Lights' At Supreme Court Days After Democrats Win Control
NBC NewsAlito says Supreme Court is caught between the president and a Congress that can ‘turn off the lights’
FOX NewsAlito warns against congressional Supreme Court meddling, says some lower court judges 'have gone far astray'
Raw Story‘Turn off the lights’: Alito admits Congress can effectively shut down the Supreme Court
NewsNationAlito warns Congress can ‘turn off the lights’ at Supreme Court
New York PostSamuel Alito warns Democrats could ‘turn off the lights’ at Supreme Court by cutting funding
New RepublicAlito Goes After Lower Court Judges Who Dare to Rule Against Trump
Epoch TimesAlito Warns Congress Has Power to ‘Turn Off the Lights’ at Supreme Court, Defund Activities
AlterNetSupreme Court’s Alito slams judges who dared defy Trump
The FederalistAfter Midterms, Alito Warns Of Threats To Judicial 'Independence'
Joe.My.God.Alito: “Congress Can Turn Off The Lights” At SCOTUS
Breitbart NewsReport -- Justice Alito: 'Congress Can Turn Off the Lights' at SCOTUS
Daily MailSamuel Alito reveals Supreme Court battles and addresses retirement
Western JournalJustice Samuel Alito Warns Congressional Democrats Have the Ability to 'Turn Off the Lights' for the Supreme Court
RedStateLights Out at SCOTUS? Alito Sounds the Alarm Over Congress' Power of the Purse
Daily SignalAlito: Congress Can 'Turn Off the Lights' at Supreme Court
Patriot PostSupreme Speculation About the Court
29%
Left · 5
12%
Center · 2
59%
Right · 10
Pano counted 17 articles from 17 outlets: 29% left-leaning, 12% center and 59% right-leaning. Pano rates the coverage Leans Right.
What happened
- Justice Samuel Alito warned Thursday that Congress could effectively shut down the Supreme Court by cutting its funding.
- Speaking at the Federalist Society’s annual Scalia Memorial Dinner, Alito said preserving judicial independence was essential to maintaining the Constitution.
- His remarks followed Democrats’ midterm victories giving them control of both chambers of Congress, though he did not mention the elections.
- Alito also criticized some lower-court judges for blocking presidents’ policies, saying they had abused their powers without identifying specific rulings.
- Whether incoming Democratic majorities will use court funding as leverage remains unresolved, though Democrats have previously considered that approach.
How the left told it
Left-leaning outlets emphasized the political context of Alito’s remarks, with several questioning his criticism of lower-court judges. HuffPost and Raw Story highlighted the warning’s timing after Democrats won Congress; AlterNet and The New Republic stressed that he criticized judges blocking Trump without addressing Trump’s attacks on them.
How the right told it
Right-leaning outlets largely framed Alito’s warning as a defense of judicial independence against potential Democratic pressure. Fox News emphasized congressional “meddling,” while the New York Post highlighted Democrats’ court-change proposals. The Federalist described potential efforts to “undermine” judicial independence; Epoch Times focused more narrowly on Alito’s funding concerns.
