The Department of Justice has successfully blocked Gavin Newsom from forcing ICE agents to remove their masks while operating in California.
US Attorney General Pam Bondi revealed on Thursday the US court for the 9th circuit issued a full stay blocking the Golden State governor’s plan.
Bondi wrote on X: “The 9th Circuit has now issued a FULL stay blocking California’s ban on masks for federal law enforcement agents.
“Law enforcement officers risk their lives for us, only to be doxxed by radical anti-police activists. Unacceptable.
“This crucial ruling protects our brave men and women in the field. We will not stop fighting bad laws like these in California and across the country.”
LA’s top federal prosecutor also celebrated the win, blasting the state for attempting to regulate what agents can and cannot do.
First Assistant US Attorney for the Central District Bill Essayli said: “The state of California needs to familiarize itself with the Supremacy Clause.”
He added “it does not have the authority to regulate federal agents,” and called it another “key win for the Justice Department.”
Earlier this month, a federal judge blocked a law that would ban federal agents from wearing masks in the state during law enforcement operations.
US District Judge Christina Snyder did rule in favor of a provision that requires all law enforcement officers — federal and state — to wear badges or other identification on their uniforms.
Newsom initially tried to take a victory lap, only to be smacked down by Essayli who said: “That’s a funny way of saying you lost. A federal judge BLOCKED your anti-masking law because it violated the Supremacy Clause.”
He added, “You know these attempts to regulate federal agents are unconstitutional and unenforceable. Federal agents acting within their duties are immune from state prosecution. Stop lying and misleading the public.”
Snyder, a Clinton-nominated US judge, ruled the mask measure “treats federal law enforcement differently than similarly situated state law enforcement officers.”
The Trump administration called the decision as a “key court victory.”
In September 2025, Newsom signed Senate Bill 627, known as the No Secret Police Act, to prohibit local and federal law enforcement officers from wearing masks or facial coverings to conceal their identity while conducting official duties. It took effect Jan. 1.
The Trump administration challenged the bill, arguing it interferes with federal operations.
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