Oregon — The U.S. Department of Justice announced Wednesday it has filed a federal lawsuit against Oregon, alleging the state’s recent policy suspending confidential license plates for federal agencies violates the U.S. Constitution and interferes with federal law enforcement operations.
The complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon, names Governor Tina Kotek, Oregon Transportation Commission Chair Julie Brown, and DMV Administrator Amy Joyce as defendants.
According to the filing, Oregon’s DMV issued confidential license plates to federal agencies “for many years” before reversing course in April 2026 and pausing issuance to all federal agencies while continuing to provide confidential plates to state and local law enforcement.
The DOJ alleges Oregon is also refusing to issue standard Oregon registrations to federal vehicles, instead directing agencies to use conspicuous “U.S. Government” plates. Federal attorneys argue that policy effectively forces undercover federal officers to publicly identify themselves as federal agents. The complaint compares the requirement to “forcing undercover officers to wear giant badges saying ‘Fed.’”
The lawsuit argues the policy violates the Supremacy Clause and the constitutional doctrine of intergovernmental immunity by discriminating against the federal government and attempting to regulate federal law enforcement operations.
The filing states federal agencies including the FBI, DEA, ATF, ICE, Homeland Security Investigations, and Customs and Border Protection routinely rely on confidential license plates for undercover surveillance, fugitive operations, drug trafficking investigations, counterterrorism activities, human trafficking cases, and protective operations.
Federal attorneys further claim the Oregon policy jeopardizes officer safety and ongoing investigations by making federal vehicles easier to identify and track. The complaint states that targets could evade surveillance, destroy evidence, or interfere with law enforcement operations if federal vehicles become traceable.
The DOJ filing also points to what it describes as increasing threats against federal officers, alleging ICE personnel have faced an “8,000% increase in death threats” and a “1,000% increase in assaults” amid online doxxing campaigns and identification websites targeting agents and their families.
“This Department of Justice will exercise any and all lawful authorities to support the brave men and women of law enforcement,” Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said in a statement accompanying the lawsuit announcement. Blanche accused Oregon and other states of pursuing “discriminatory and obstructionist policies” against federal law enforcement.
Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate said the DOJ would continue challenging state and local policies it believes obstruct federal operations.
The lawsuit seeks declaratory and injunctive relief that would permanently block Oregon from denying confidential or standard license plates to federal agencies.
The lawsuit comes amid broader tensions between the Trump administration and several Democratic-led states over immigration enforcement and state-level cooperation with federal agencies. Oregon officials previously said the pause was part of a review to ensure compliance with state law, according to the complaint.
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