Federal Judges Are Building Trump’s Ballroom Bunker for Themselves
New reports suggest threats pose a constitutional problem—judges may need physical defenses to stay legally, and judicially, free.
Federal judges across the country are taking steps to ensure their physical safety and maintain the independence of their judicial decisions. As the threat of violence against judges rises, some are building safe rooms in their homes, changing their daily routines, and installing panic buttons. A recent case involving a judge who received over 700 threatening calls highlights the severity of the issue.
The judge ultimately made the required ruling, but the incident caused significant hesitation and stress. This comparison to President Trump's White House ballroom complex suggests that the same constitutional principle applies: public officials must be physically secure to perform their duties without fear. According to a recent study, the number of security incidents involving federal judges rose by 57% in fiscal year 2025, with 315 judges identified as threatened through September 2025.
The 2020 shooting of U.S. District Judge Esther Salas, which was carried out after the judge's home address was found online, serves as a stark reminder of the potential consequences of threats. In response to these threats, judges are investing in their own security, yet their actions also serve to protect the independence of their decision-making processes.
Written by urgent.news from Newsweek's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
