(filed May 27, 2026)
U.S. v. State of Washington, et al. - The Trump Administration sued the state of Washington over its confidential/undercover license plates policy. It alleges that in October 2025, Washington’s Department of Licensing (DOL) started denying requests from DHS to obtain and renew undercover license plates and registrations. The government alleges that in January 2026, Washington DOL informed Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) that it was suspending the issuance and renewal of undercover license plates for DHS-affiliated entities for an indeterminate period. In May 2026, the state’s Attorney General sent a letter to the Department of Justice confirming that the state voluntarily provides undercover plates to federal agencies each year and included a list of those agencies, but DHS agencies were left out of the list. Additionally, DOL requested DHS to turn in all current undercover plates and obtain new registrations for each vehicle to conform with state law, the Keep Washington Working Act (RCW 43.17.425), that prohibits the use of funds for the targeting of residents solely on the basis of race, religion, immigration or citizenship states, or national or ethnic origin. Washington DOL’s regular plate policy requires that DHS agencies provide an agency name, address or P.O box, even if the DHS agency is not engaging in immigration enforcement. The government challenges the policy primarily because it discriminates against the federal government. The federal case is ongoing.