California Gov. Gavin Newsom has cranked his anti-ICE, anti-Trump hysteria all the way up to 11. Not satisfied with smearing a top Trump official as a Nazi SS officer, Newsom just went even further off the rails — signing a law that bans law enforcement, including federal agents, from wearing masks while doing their jobs.
That’s right: at a time when ICE agents are being doxxed, threatened, and attacked, Newsom’s big idea is to strip away one of their basic protections. This guy…and his Democrat supermajority in California.
As we’ve pointed out before, Newsom seems to have conveniently “forgotten” a little thing in the Constitution called the Supremacy Clause. Cornell Law spells it out plain as day: It “refers to the foundational principle that, in general, federal law takes precedence over any conflicting state law.”
The Department of Homeland Security already warned Newsom that his little stunt of a law is dead on arrival. But now U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli has put it in writing: federal officers will keep doing their jobs exactly as before — and anyone foolish enough to get in their way is going to have some serious problems on their hands.
Governor Newsom is confused about his role under the U.S. Constitution. He oversees California, not federal agencies. He should review the Supremacy Clause.
California's law to "unmask" federal agents is unconstitutional, as the state lacks jurisdiction to interfere with federal… pic.twitter.com/9ZWlFRxHMi
— Acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli (@USAttyEssayli) September 26, 2025
“California’s law to ‘unmask’ federal agents is unconstitutional, as the state lacks jurisdiction to interfere with federal law enforcement,” the US attorney noted, going on to not mince his words when it came to warning Newsom and his state agencies. “I have directed federal agencies to disregard this state law and adhere to federal law and agency policies.”
Essayli didn’t just stop at calling Newsom’s mask ban unconstitutional — he dropped the hammer in his memo. If California dares to enforce it or meddle with ICE operations, he warned, the response won’t be more “strongly worded letters.” It’ll be arrests. It’ll be prosecutions. And that’s the kind of headline Gavin Newsom doesn’t want hanging over him as he gears up for what many say is an all-but-certain presidential run.
‘We’re not playing by your rules,’ Essayli essentially declared, making it crystal clear that federal law — not Sacramento politics — calls the shots.
“Because California cannot direct and impede the actions of federal law enforcement, and federal law enforcement has determined that protecting the identity of federal law enforcement officers is necessary in some circumstances for their safety while enforcing federal law, I direct federal law enforcement to continue to comply with federal law and follow their agency policies on the appropriate or wearing masks when conducting federal law enforcement operations,” he said.
Essayli then made his position very clear: “Any state official or private individual that unlawfully interferes or impedes federal law enforcement operations should be referred to my office for prosecution.”
Shot, and chaser. Your move, Gov. Newsom.
