The Justice Department on Thursday sued the state of Virginia over what it described as the state's "unconstitutional ​attempt to regulate" federal agents by banning masks for ⁠law enforcement.

The department ​alleges that Virginia's ban threatens the safety ⁠of federal officers.

"Virginia's anti-law enforcement policies regulate the federal government and are ‌designed to create risk ​for our agents. ‌These laws cannot stand," acting U.S. ‌Attorney General Todd Blanche said in a statement.

Virginia Attorney General ⁠Jay Jones said ‌his ⁠office is reviewing the lawsuit.

The bill ⁠restricting ⁠law enforcement from wearing facial coverings was signed ‌into law by the state's governor, Abigail Spanberger, last month.

Other ‌states, ​including California ‌and New York, have also moved to impose similar restrictions.