A federal judge has blocked New York from enforcing a law that barred federal agents from wearing face coverings or required visible identification, ruling that the state overstepped its constitutional authority.
The decision by U.S. District Judge Mae D'Agostino in the Northern District of New York comes as states increasingly impose restrictions on federal law enforcement amid concerns over transparency. The judge found that New York’s measures likely violated the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution, which prevents states from regulating federal law enforcement operations.
New York’s law, included in the state budget signed by Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul in May, took effect in June. It required federal agents to wear visible identification and prohibited face coverings while on duty. Hochul and New York Attorney General Letitia James stated in a joint response that they disagree with the ruling and are reviewing legal options.
The ruling follows a similar decision earlier this year, when a federal judge blocked California’s law banning most law enforcement officers from wearing facial coverings. That law was enacted after high-profile immigration enforcement raids in Los Angeles during the Trump administration. Legal experts noted the potential nationwide implications of both rulings, as other states—including Connecticut—have pursued comparable restrictions.
In May, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against Connecticut over its own law prohibiting face coverings by state and local law enforcement. The DOJ has argued that such state-level restrictions interfere with federal operations, a position reinforced by Judge D'Agostino’s ruling.
Judge D'Agostino acknowledged New York’s stated goal of transparent policing but emphasized that the court’s role was limited to assessing constitutionality. “The issue now before the Court is about constitutionality—not transparency or preferable policy decisions,” she wrote in her decision.
The ruling does not address whether states may impose similar requirements on their own law enforcement agencies, focusing solely on federal agents operating within state borders.