McEnany says ICE agents are 'the most traumatized federal workers,' triggering online backlash

Kayleigh McEnany, the Fox News host and former White House press secretary, asserted on Monday’s edition of The Five that Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents are 'the most traumatized federal worker.' The remark came as California Gov. Gavin Newsom pushed a policy that would bar local and federal law enforcement officers from wearing face masks while on duty, a move Newsom framed as protecting residents from what he has described as 'secret police' tactics amid the federal crackdown on undocumented immigration. McEnany built her argument around the idea that immigration policy changes have heightened the stress and perceived threat to ICE personnel.

Reaction on social media surged, with critics pushing back against the portrayal of agents as uniquely traumatized and pointing to broader harms across law enforcement and federal workers. Several posts noted that other federal officers, including those who defended Congress during the Jan. 6 attack, faced trauma too, and some tweaked McEnany’s line to say ICE agents were the most traumatizing federal workers—'especially to children,' one commenter quipped. The online responses ranged from satire to criticism of how the trauma narrative is used in politics, highlighting how people interpret agency morale in the context of immigration enforcement.

Newsom’s mask-while-on-duty policy has drawn its own share of controversy. Supporters say it ties into a broader debate about enforcement tactics and the administration’s approach to immigration, while opponents argue that facial coverings matter for safety and public health and that the policy could hinder on-the-job communication. The governor’s office has framed the measure as part of a broader attempt to limit what he calls overreach by federal and local officials in the immigration arena.

Publishers and editors at HuffPost described the piece as reflecting a broader pattern of political rhetoric about federal workers during a period of intense debate over immigration policy. The article labeled the online response as a 'pity party' for ICE agents that melted down online, underscoring how quickly commentary shifted from a soundbite to a larger discussion about morale and accountability within federal agencies.

Across the spectrum, analysts note that framing morale as a policy lever can drive public opinion in ways that are not strictly about the facts on the ground. The exchange illustrates how high-profile comments about federal agencies quickly draw attention to the human toll of enforcement and enforcement policy, even as the underlying policy questions remain deeply contested.