Pass a Federal Ban on Masked Law Enforcement

Virginia just showed the rest of the country how it's done. On May 20, Governor Spanberger signed HB1482, banning facial coverings for state and local law enforcement on official duty. A cop in Virginia now carries his face along with his badge. Narrow exceptions exist for disease, toxic environments, and SWAT unit operations — and violating the law means a Class 1 misdemeanor, up to a year in jail, a $2,500 fine, discipline up to dismissal or decertification, and a private right of action so anyone arrested by a hooded officer can take them to court. We need this at the federal level. Masked federal agents — including ICE officers — operating without visible identification are a direct threat to accountability. California has passed a similar "No Secret Police Act." The legal and moral case is settled: anonymous law enforcement is incompatible with a free society. This country banned masked intimidation after the KKK. The principle hasn't changed. Introduce or co-sponsor federal legislation mirroring Virginia's HB1482. Every officer operating on U.S. soil should be identifiable. Accountability isn't optional — it's the foundation of legitimate law enforcement.