DHS Orders Immediate Deployment of Body Cameras for Federal Officers in Minneapolis, Plans Nationwide Expansion
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced an immediate directive to equip all federal law enforcement officers operating in Minneapolis with body-worn cameras. This move serves as the initial phase of a larger strategic plan to expand the use of recording technology to federal agents across the United States as funding becomes available.
Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem publicized the decision in a statement released on the social media platform X. According to the Secretary, the order followed consultations with senior department officials, including the acting leadership of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
“Effective immediately we are deploying body cameras to every officer in the field in Minneapolis,” Noem wrote. She further noted that the DHS intends to “rapidly acquire and deploy body cameras to DHS law enforcement across the country” as resources allow.
The initiative represents a significant shift in federal policing protocol. While body-worn cameras have become standard equipment for many state and municipal police departments—often used to increase transparency and accountability during operations—their adoption at the federal level has been more gradual. Minneapolis has notably been a focal point for national discourse regarding law enforcement practices over the last several years.
Secretary Noem characterized the deployment as part of a comprehensive push for openness within the executive branch. In her statement, she thanked President Donald Trump, describing the current administration as “the most transparent in American history.”
As the rollout begins in Minneapolis, specific administrative details regarding the program’s long-term structure remain under development. The DHS has not yet released comprehensive information regarding procurement timelines, data retention policies, or the rules governing public access to the video footage. These protocols are expected to be addressed and standardized as the department works to scale the program beyond the Minneapolis area to cover federal operations nationwide.
