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Justice Department Sues California to Block Mask and ID Laws for Federal Officers

Prosecutors cite the Supremacy Clause, saying federal agencies will not comply.

The Justice Department sued California Monday over two laws prohibiting federal officers from wearing masks and requiring them to display their name or badge number.
A law enforcement officer stands as people filled the streets of downtown Los Angeles in a massive 'No Kings' march, starting at City Hall and Molina Park.
FILE - Law enforcement officers stand guard during a protest, June 14, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope, File)
FILE - A woman stands off with a law enforcement officer wearing a Houston Field Office Special Response Team patch outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs building during a protest in Portland, Ore., June 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane, File)

Overview

  • Filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, the complaint seeks preliminary and permanent injunctions against enforcing SB627 and SB805 on federal personnel.
  • SB627 bans most officers from covering their faces during enforcement with exceptions for undercover work and protective gear and is set to take effect Jan. 1, 2026, while SB805 already requires non‑uniformed officers to display visible identification.
  • The DOJ argues the measures unlawfully regulate federal operations and threaten agent safety, citing harassment, doxxing, and a case alleging activists followed an ICE agent and posted an address online.
  • The FBI issued an October advisory urging clear officer identification after reports of impostors, a point California lawmakers highlight as they defend the laws as accountability measures.
  • Gov. Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta were named as defendants, with California saying it is reviewing the suit as DHS reiterates it will not comply with the mask ban.