The Trump administration’s Department of Justice has filed a federal lawsuit challenging California’s new “No Secret Police Act,” a law that prohibits most on-duty law enforcement officers — including federal agents — from covering their faces. The law is scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2026, and was crafted in response to masked immigration raids carried out across the state.
State lawmakers passed the measure to increase transparency and rebuild public trust after incidents where federal agents conducting immigration arrests wore masks that concealed their identities. The law provides limited exceptions, including for the California Highway Patrol and for safety-related gear such as motorcycle helmets.
The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, with the state of California, Governor Gavin Newsom, and Attorney General Rob Bonta named as defendants.
The filing was announced by U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli, who posted on social media that the new law places federal personnel at heightened risk of “doxing” and targeted violence.
According to Essayli, assaults against federal officers have risen in recent months, and he blamed what he called “reckless political rhetoric” for delegitimizing law enforcement. He argued that prohibiting agents from concealing their faces is unconstitutional and threatens the safety of “men and women protecting our community.”
He has previously stated that federal agents intend to ignore the state’s mask ban.
For those looking to review the full details, the lawsuit is publicly accessible on the U.S. Department of Justice website.
(Previous interviews with Essayli aired on California Politics 360.)
California Responds: “We’ll See You in Court”
State officials and the bill’s author, Sen. Scott Wiener, sharply criticized the federal lawsuit. Wiener said the Trump administration’s challenge proves it prioritizes “unchecked power to kidnap and intimidate” over public safety and constitutional rights. He cited recent warnings from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which advised that ICE’s use of masked agents has fueled dangerous copycat crimes and eroded community trust.
“No one is above the law. We’ll see you in court,” Wiener said.
A spokesperson for Governor Gavin Newsom called the Trump administration’s position hypocritical, claiming it is more concerned with “pardoning violent offenders” and “violating people’s rights” than protecting Californians.
Attorney General Rob Bonta echoed those concerns, emphasizing that Californians should be able to distinguish between lawful officers and criminals. He argued that masked federal agents have enabled impersonators, increased public confusion, and undermined community confidence in legitimate policing.
Bonta’s office said it is currently reviewing the DOJ complaint.
