The United States government has filed a lawsuit against the State of New York, seeking to strike down a newly enacted state law that imposes restrictions on federal law enforcement agents. The law, which is set to take effect on June 26, 2026, prohibits federal agents from wearing face coverings or refusing to disclose personal identifiers while working in the state.

Constitutional Concerns

The Justice Department argues that the law violates the Supremacy Clause of the US Constitution and the principles of intergovernmental immunity, which dictate that states have no authority to regulate or control the operations of the federal government. The lawsuit also claims that the law creates an immediate safety crisis for agents who face an unprecedented wave of doxxing, harassment, and targeted violence.

The law in question, known as the Face Covering Act and the Identification Act, requires federal agents to visibly display their agency name and an individual identifier, such as a badge or shield number, while interacting with the public. The law also prohibits federal agents from wearing tactical masks, balaclavas, or neck gaiters that obscure their facial identity.

Immigration Enforcement

The lawsuit also targets a separate provision of the New York budget package known as the “Local Cops, Local Crimes Act,” or the Termination Act, which orders all New York local governments, local police departments, and sheriff’s offices to immediately terminate their formal 287(g) partnerships with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The Justice Department argues that forcing the cancellation of these contracts violates the Constitution’s Contracts Clause and creates an obstacle to federal immigration objectives.

Original reporting: Tampa Free Press — read the source article.