Judge Strikes Down California’s Ban on Masks for Federal Agents

The New York Times ^ | Feb. 9, 2026, 6:26 p.m. ET | Laurel Rosenhall

[E. Pluribus Unum]

The state can require federal agents to display identification, the judge said. The Trump administration had asked the court to block both laws, which were designed to help identify federal agents.

A federal judge on Monday said that California could not prohibit federal law enforcement agents from wearing face masks unless it amended the law to also apply to state agents. But the judge did allow the state to require federal agents to display identification.

Judge Christina A. Snyder of the Federal District Court in Los Angeles issued a preliminary injunction against the mask ban, ruling that California’s new law was unconstitutional because it did not impose the same requirements on all federal, state and local law enforcement officers.

However, the judge allowed the state to enforce a separate law that requires all law enforcement officers, including federal ones, to display visible identification.

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation in September that made California the first state in the nation to prohibit law enforcement officers from covering their faces, starting on Jan. 1. Federal agents began wearing masks more regularly during immigration raids last year in large part to avoid being identified by activists.

The Trump administration argued that the law was unconstitutional because states could not regulate federal agencies. It also said California’s law was discriminatory because it applied to local and federal officers, but not to those employed by the state.

The federal government contended that its agents needed to be able to protect their identities from protesters who threatened to harass or harm them and their families.

“Denying federal agencies and officers that choice would chill federal law enforcement and deter applicants for law enforcement positions,” the U.S. Department of Justice wrote in its lawsuit.

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TOPICS: Government
KEYWORDS: california; capanactivist; cdcalifornia; cdcrackifornia; christinaasnyder; christinasnyder; clintonstooge; crackifornia; democratcorruption; gavinnewsom; goodforgavin; goodforgreaseball; greaseballnewsom; hairgelhitler; highspeedgraft; highspeedgrift; highspeedrail; highspeedtheft; jazzhands; judgewatch; laurelrosenhall; mousselini; newsomshispeedgrift; newsomstraingrift; newyorktimes; oljazzhands; pelosicrimefamily; seniormomentjudge; teamdemocrap

[Mark]

bkmk

[Revel]

The mask won’t do any good it their names are pined on their shirts.

[an amused spectator]

Doxx Newscum’s police detail.

[Ronaldus Magnus III]

Doxx Newscum’s police detail.

Unfortunately, they will probably be Moe, Larry and Curly

Then again, they just might be Lucifer, Lazarus, and Pelousy

[Mark]

Agents should carry flyers to pass out with the picture and name of this judge: “We all need name tags”.

[whitney69]

So what’s the problem? They already wear uniforms and badges with numbers that identify them as law enforcement officers. They, at that point, are identified as asked by the state just like state law enforcers. End of problem. They just are not allowed to force the agents to facial appearances for the safety of the agents. Sorry Neuscome you scab.

wy69

[Libloather]

The state can require federal agents to display identification, the judge said.

Just as long as the rioters do it as well.

[TexasFreeper2009]

a separate law that requires all law enforcement officers, including federal ones, to display visible identification

kind of hard to be undercover if you have to display visible identification.

Stupid law

[FrankRizzo890]

Simple fix. Malicious conformance. My ID says “ICE officer # 12345” And yours says “ICE officer #12346”. That makes us unique. It’s ID.

[Political Junkie Too]

The mask won’t do any good it their names are pined on their shirts.

According to the law, it doesn't have to be names -- badge numbers are sufficient.

-PJ