President Donald Trump's administration filed a lawsuit against the state of California on Monday in response to two "lunatic" laws recently passed that restrict the use of masks by federal agents and require them to wear visible identification while conducting operations in the state.
The federal government keeps that the new regulations directly endanger the safety of agents, especially those involved in immigration tasks who, according to the Department of Justice, face "unprecedented" levels of harassment, doxing, and violence.
The laws were signed in September by Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom, making California the first state in the country to ban most law enforcement officers, including federal agents, from covering their faces during official operations.
The regulation prohibits the use of balaclavas, "neck gaiter" scarves, ski masks, or other garments that prevent the identification of officers' faces, although it provides exceptions for undercover agents, protective equipment such as N95 respirators, and certain tactical gear. The law doesn't apply to state police, but it does apply to federal agents such as those from ICE and CBP operating in the state.
Another law signed by Newsom requires all agents to wear clear and visible identification showing the corresponding agency and their badge number while on duty.
In addition, it requires federal agencies to implement an official mask use policy by July 1, 2026, and a visible identification policy by January 1 of that same year.
For the Trump administration, these measures cross a dangerous line. United States Attorney General Pam Bondi described the laws as "anti-law enforcement" and accused California of discriminating against federal agents by imposing requirements that, according to the Department of Justice, are designed to increase their vulnerability.
