On April 5, 2025, former President Donald Trump signed a new executive order that focused on increasing safety for police officers, federal judges, and prosecutors, as well as their families. The order, titled “Protecting Law Enforcement Officers, Judges, Prosecutors, and Their Families,” is aimed at helping those who work in high-risk public service roles feel more protected—both on the job and at home.
In recent years, there has been growing concern about the threats many public servants face. Police officers, judges, and prosecutors often deal with dangerous individuals and sensitive cases. As a result, they have become targets for threats, harassment, and violence.
Trump’s executive order is supposed to give them more tools to protect themselves and their loved ones. One major part of the order gives federal judges and prosecutors who are facing credible threats the right to carry concealed firearms, even in states or areas where it would normally be restricted. It also allows federal prosecutors to be temporarily made into Deputy U.S. Marshals if they need it. This means they could legally carry weapons in more places and have more protection in their daily lives.
Another important part of this order is to focus on privacy. It tells government agencies to work harder to keep personal information—like home addresses, phone numbers, and family details—private and protected. This is meant to prevent these individuals from being targeted through doxxing, which is private information that has spread online without consent. Sadly, this kind of harassment has become more common in recent years, especially when people work on controversial or high-profile cases. During the announcement of the order, President Trump said that public servants deserve more than just “thank yous.” He stated they need real protection from the risks they face every day, “These men and women are the ones standing between us and chaos,” and “They shouldn’t have to worry about their safety after hours, or wonder if their families are being targeted just because they did their job.”
Many law enforcement professionals have welcomed the order. Maria Ortega, a federal prosecutor in Arizona, said, “There are days I’ve felt uneasy just leaving the courthouse. Knowing that the government is finally taking real steps to protect us—it gives me peace of mind.” However, not everyone agrees with the order. Some critics, particularly gun control advocates, worry that giving more people the right to carry firearms—even for protection—might lead to confusion or misuse. Others are concerned about how the government will decide who is “under threat” and whether the rules will be applied fairly. Civil rights groups also raised questions about transparency. “We understand the need to protect public servants, but we have to make sure this doesn’t create loopholes that allow unnecessary use of force or misuse of power,” one advocacy group said in a public statement. Still, supporters of the order say it’s a necessary and overdue step. They argue that people who dedicate their lives to keeping the public safe shouldn’t be left vulnerable, especially in today’s environment, where tensions around law enforcement and the justice system are high. The executive order does not create entirely new laws, but it gives public servants more support and authority to protect themselves if needed.
It also puts pressure on agencies to improve how they handle personal information and respond to threats. In the end, the order reflects a bigger message from Trump and his supporters: that law and order must be respected, and those who uphold it deserve to feel secure. As Trump said in his closing remarks, “Protecting those who protect us isn’t just the right thing to do—it’s common sense.”