The U.S. Justice Department filed a lawsuit Thursday against the City of Milwaukee and its top officials to challenge a local ordinance that restricts federal law enforcement tactics,.
The complaint targets a city code that prohibits federal officers from wearing masks and requires them to display individual identifiers while operating within city limits.
According to the Department of Justice, the local law represents an unconstitutional attempt by a municipality to regulate the operations of the federal government.
The legal action names Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson, City Attorney Evan Goyke, and Police Chief Jeffrey Norman as defendants in the case.
Federal officials allege that the ordinance, Milwaukee Code of Ordinances § 105-140, directly threatens the safety of agents who have experienced an unprecedented wave of harassment and doxing.
Beyond safety risks, the department argues that the mandate to reveal identities could compromise sensitive law enforcement operations and chill the enforcement of federal law.
Associate Attorney General Stanley E. Woodward Jr. emphasized the legal boundaries between different levels of government when discussing the case.
“State and local leaders cannot tell Federal officers how to do their job,” Woodward said in a statement released by the Office of Public Affairs.
He further noted that local authorities cannot prohibit agents from ensuring their own safety while they safeguard communities and enforce federal law.
Woodward added that the department will not tolerate policies that enable violent behavior against law enforcement officers and their families.
The Justice Department maintains that the authority to determine proper equipment for federal agents rests solely with the federal government.
Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Civil Division clarified that the city does not have the power to decide what agents wear.
“The Federal Government, not the city, gets to decide which equipment federal agents may or may not wear when performing their official duties,” Shumate stated.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Brad Schimel for the Eastern District of Wisconsin characterized the ordinance as both a constitutional violation and a safety hazard.
Schimel explained that the law puts local and federal law enforcement officers at odds with each other during a time when they should be collaborating.
“Not only is this ordinance an affront to the Constitution, but it jeopardizes the safety of our courageous sworn law enforcement officers,” Schimel said.
The lawsuit follows a specific directive from Acting Attorney General Blanche to identify local laws that impede lawful federal operations.
The Department of Justice reported that this case is part of a broader series of legal challenges against similar policies in several states and cities. According to the Office of Public Affairs, the Civil Division has also targeted regulations in New York, Virginia, Connecticut, New Jersey, California, and Philadelphia.
Federal courts have already granted preliminary relief to the United States in every previous case where a ruling has been issued on these claims.
The department continues to argue that protecting the identities of agents is a necessary component of modern law enforcement in the face of rising threats.