Yes, in some circumstances a federal judge can issue a contempt order without first issuing an order to show cause, but it depends on the type of contempt involved.
There are two main categories:
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Direct contempt: This occurs in the judge's presence (for example, someone disrupts proceedings in the courtroom). A judge may summarily hold the person in contempt without first issuing a show cause order because the conduct was personally observed by the court.
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Indirect (or constructive) contempt: This occurs outside the judge's presence, such as allegedly violating a court order. In these cases, due process generally requires that the person receive notice of the alleged contempt and an opportunity to respond before the court imposes sanctions. A show cause order is a common way to provide that notice, but courts may use other procedures that satisfy the same due process requirements.
For criminal contempt, additional constitutional protections apply, including notice of the charges and, in some cases, the right to a jury trial depending on the severity of the potential punishment.
So, if you're asking whether a federal judge can impose contempt sanctions before giving notice and an opportunity to be heard for conduct occurring outside the courtroom, the answer is generally no, absent the narrow exception for summary punishment of direct contempt occurring in the court's presence.
If you have a specific case or docket in mind, I can help explain whether the judge appears to have followed the required procedures.
