Micah Jonah, February 10, 2026
A United States federal judge has blocked the enforcement of a California state law that sought to ban federal officers from wearing masks while on duty.
The ruling was delivered on Monday in Los Angeles by U.S. District Judge Christina Snyder, who held that the federal government was likely to succeed in proving that the law was unconstitutional. The judge consequently granted an order preventing the law from being enforced.
In the same decision, however, the court upheld a separate California law requiring federal officers to display identification while carrying out their duties.
Reacting to the ruling, California Governor, Gavin Newsom described the decision upholding the identification requirement as a victory for accountability, stating that officers must be identifiable to ensure the rule of law is respected.
On the other hand, U.S. Attorney General, Pam Bondi welcomed the court’s decision to strike down the mask ban, describing it as a significant legal victory for federal law enforcement officers. She noted that federal agents are frequently harassed, exposed and attacked while performing their duties, stressing that such risks justified the need for protective measures.
The disputed laws were signed in September following the deployment of National Guard troops to Los Angeles during protests linked to immigration enforcement operations. The U.S. Department of Justice later challenged the laws, arguing that California had no authority to regulate how federal officers perform their duties.
In her ruling, Justice Snyder agreed that the mask ban violated the U.S. Constitution by interfering with federal functions. She further held that the law unfairly targeted federal officers by treating them differently from state law enforcement personnel, who were exempted from the ban.
The case adds to ongoing legal tensions between federal authorities and some U.S. states over the limits of state power in regulating federal law enforcement activities.
