State Chief Justices Ask Congress to Keep Legal Services Funding

More than 30 state supreme court chief justices are urging Congress to protect the Legal Services Corporation funding following President Donald Trump’s proposed elimination of the independent agency in his fiscal 2026 budget proposal.

“The promise of justice must be real to all who seek it. Justice for only those who can afford it is neither justice for all nor justice at all. In view of these facts on the ground, we urge you take all necessary steps to protect funding for LSC in FY 2026,” said the letter sent to House and Senate appropriators.

The LSC supports hundreds of thousands of cases pertaining to domestic violence, family, and child safety, housing security, and veterans. This adds value to the community, generating an average return of $7 for every $1 spent on legal aid, the letter said.

The 2026 budget appendix requests $21 million for an “orderly closeout” of the LSC, which was established in 1974 to provide financial support for legal aid to low-income people in the US. The independent agency, which provides funding to 130 non-profit legal aid programs, had requested $2.1 billion for fiscal 2026.

The state chief justices said the consequences for citizens would be “disastrous” and that court procedures would be slowed, causing a backlog of other cases.