Recent statements from sources close to Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito indicate that neither plans to step down before the end of 2026, with Alito already hiring clerks for the 2027 term. These reports have lowered expectations of a vacancy despite President Trump’s public remarks on his readiness to appoint replacements and the justices’ ages of 77 and 76. No health concerns or formal announcements have surfaced to alter that outlook in recent weeks, and the court’s other members show no signs of departure. Traders appear to view these signals of continuity as the dominant factor shaping current probabilities for an opening during the calendar year.