DOJ challenges Denver's mask ban on federal officers as unconstitutional
The Justice Department has filed a civil suit against Denver, arguing that the city’s ordinance prohibiting law-enforcement officers, including federal agents, from wearing masks violates the Constitution’s Supremacy Clause and threatens officer safety.
Federal attorneys have brought a civil action against the city and county of Denver, contending that the municipality’s mask ban for law-enforcement personnel, which also applies to federal agents, breaches the Supremacy Clause of the Constitution. Enacted in March 2025, the ordinance forbids officers from covering their faces during official actions, mandates visible identification, and sets penalties of up to $999 and 300 days imprisonment for non-compliance.
The Justice Department argues the rule not only oversteps local authority over federal operations but also jeopardizes officer safety by making them vulnerable to doxxing, harassment and physical threats. Denver’s mayoral office, represented by spokesman Jon Ewing, said the city will fight the case, describing the ban as common-sense and constitutional. The city originally adopted the measure in response to ICE and CBP activities linked to a broader immigration enforcement push. This filing comes a week after the DOJ sued Maryland over a similar mask prohibition and is part of a series of lawsuits targeting nine jurisdictions under Attorney General Todd Blanche.
Why it matters
It tests the balance between local authority and federal power over law-enforcement practices.
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