The Trump administration has filed a lawsuit challenging California’s newly enacted laws that prohibit most federal agents from wearing masks and require them to display identification during operations.

Federal officials argue the laws endanger officers who are experiencing “unprecedented” levels of harassment, doxing, and violence, and say they will not comply.

California became the first state to forbid most law enforcement officers — including federal immigration agents — from covering their faces while performing official duties under legislation signed in September by Gov. Gavin Newsom. The measure bans face coverings such as ski masks and neck gaiters for both local and federal personnel, with exceptions for undercover work, protective equipment like N95 masks, and tactical gear. State police are exempt.

Newsom also approved a separate law requiring officers to wear visible identification showing their agency and badge number. Federal agencies must adopt mask policies by July 1, 2026, and identification policies by Jan. 1, 2026.

“California’s anti-law enforcement policies discriminate against the federal government and are designed to create risk for our agents,” U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a statement. “These laws cannot stand.”

The lawsuit cites multiple incidents in which Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers were followed or their families threatened, including a case in Los Angeles where three women allegedly livestreamed themselves trailing an ICE agent and posted the agent’s address online. The federal government argues that allowing officers to wear masks helps shield their identities and enhances safety.

Newsom has criticized the use of masked federal agents making arrests in California, calling it “dystopian.” Opponents of the administration’s stance say the presence of unidentified federal agents in local enforcement erodes transparency and trust.

A spokesperson for Newsom’s office responded sharply: “If the Trump administration cared half as much about public safety as it does about pardoning cop-beaters, violating people’s rights, and detaining U.S. citizens and their kids, our communities would be much safer.”

Last October, the FBI issued a memo urging law enforcement agencies nationwide to ensure officers clearly identify themselves, noting several cases where criminals disguised as immigration agents carried out robberies and kidnappings.

In its complaint, the federal government also argues the laws violate the Constitution’s Supremacy Clause by allowing the state to regulate federal operations, and that they discriminate against federal officers because state police are exempt.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office said it is reviewing the lawsuit.

“It’s problematic when Californians can’t tell the difference between a law enforcement officer who is charged with protecting them and a criminal trying to cause them harm,” the statement said. “The FBI itself has warned that ICE agents hiding their identities has led to more copycat crimes, posing risks to public safety and undermining trust in law enforcement.”