Introduction

Pete Buttigieg, former Transportation Secretary, appeared on NBC’s Meet the Press on September 13, 2026 and described the United States Supreme Court as a “nakedly partisan institution.” He argued that the court’s current polarization undermines public confidence and called for a structural reform that would add six additional justices to the existing nine.

Discussion

In the interview, Buttigieg emphasized that his proposal is not simply to increase the number of seats for political gain. He framed the expansion as a means to make the judiciary less partisan and to restore its legitimacy. By increasing the total number of justices to fifteen, the expectation is that the new appointments could be selected in a way that balances ideological representation.

Buttigieg’s remarks build on a broader Democratic agenda that has been discussing court reform for months. Earlier in the year, he advocated a package that included term limits for Supreme Court justices and a “balanced bench” selection process intended to reduce direct partisan influence over appointments. At that time, he suggested expanding the court to thirteen seats, linking the number to the thirteen appellate circuits—a point that critics later highlighted as a factual error, since the federal judiciary actually comprises 94 judicial districts.

The current proposal for six additional justices represents a larger expansion than previously floated. While critics label the plan as “court‑packing,” Buttigieg insists the goal is to create a more deliberative and less ideologically driven court. He noted that public confidence in the Supreme Court had fallen to its lowest point in history, according to recent polling, and that structural changes could help reverse that trend.

The political context includes ongoing debates within the Democratic Party about how to address what many members see as an erosion of judicial independence. Some legislators have introduced bills that would impose term limits or require bipartisan support for nominations. Buttigieg’s suggestion aligns with these efforts, offering a concrete legislative pathway: Congress would need to pass a statute authorizing the addition of six justices and outlining the selection criteria.

Conclusion

Pete Buttigieg’s call for six new Supreme Court seats reflects a growing conviction among many Democrats that the nation’s highest court requires structural reform to restore public trust. By proposing a balanced expansion rather than a partisan grab, the plan seeks to reduce partisanship while preserving the Court’s essential role. Whether Congress will embrace such a significant change remains uncertain, but the discussion underscores the intensity of the 2026 debate over the future of America’s judiciary.