Ask the Chatbot Games & Quizzes History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture ProCon Money Videos
Drug Enforcement Administration Ends Body Camera Use
Table of Contents
References & Edit History Related Topics
Images
Body camera
Discover
Berries and leaves of the bittersweet nightshade (Solanum dulcamara) plant. Poisonous plant
7 of the World’s Deadliest Plants
Periodical Cicada, Adult, Magicicada spp. Requires 17 years to complete development. Nymph splits its skin, and transforms into an adult. Feeds on sap of tree roots. Northern Illinois Brood. This brood is the largest emergence of cicadas anywhere
Why Do Some Cicadas Appear Only Every 17 Years?
Poker game. Card game. Royal Flush in poker. Hearts suit gambling
Poker Hands Ranked
Figure 13: A Maxim machine gun, belt-fed and water-cooled, operated by German infantrymen, World War I.
7 Deadliest Weapons in History
King Cobra snake in Malaysia. (reptile)
9 of the World’s Deadliest Snakes
Illustration for Demystified "How Dangerous is Quicksand"
How Deadly Is Quicksand?
Amendments 1-10 to the Constitution of the United States constitute what is known as the Bill of Rights on an American flag.
What Is the Emoluments Clause?
Body camera
Body camera Should law enforcement agents wear body cameras?

Drug Enforcement Administration Ends Body Camera Use

ProCon headline
print Print
Please select which sections you would like to print:
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
Feedback
Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login).
Thank you for your feedback

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

External Websites
Written and fact-checked by
The Editors of ProCon
ProCon's editors write and verify new content and update existing content. ProCon presents the pro and con arguments to debatable issues in a straightforward, nonpartisan, freely accessible way.
The Editors of ProCon
Last Updated: • Article History

ProCon Debate: Should Law Enforcement Agents Wear Body Cameras?

ProCon Issue in the News: The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) ended body camera use as of April 2, 2025, according to an internal email obtained by ProPublica.

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), which oversees the DEA, began requiring agents to wear body cameras in 2021, after the 2020 murder of George Floyd by a police officer spurred mass protests across the country. The DOJ contracted Axon, the leading manufacturer of such devices, to provide cameras and software for $30.4 million. At the time, DEA administrator Anne Milgram said,

We welcome the addition of body worn cameras and appreciate the enhanced transparency and assurance they provide to the public and to law enforcement officers working hard to keep our communities safe and healthy.

In May 2022 U.S. Pres. Joe Biden expanded body camera use via executive order, requiring that all federal law enforcement agents wear the devices. To implement a nationwide rollout of body cameras, the DOJ’s 2025 budget requested $15.8 million and 69 full-time employees.

However, in January 2025 Pres. Donald Trump issued an executive order rescinding Biden’s order mandating the use of body cameras. In February, social media claims surfaced that an app that scans for Bluetooth low-energy devices such as mobile phones and smartwatches could detect agents with body cameras from about 100 yards (91 meters) away and even trigger improvised explosive devices. Allegedly as a result of that report, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) ordered all border agents to immediately stop using their body cameras until the claim could be investigated. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) eliminated its body camera requirement in February, though no reason was given. Both CBP and ICE are overseen by the Department of Homeland Security. Seemingly following suit, the DEA stated that ending the program was “consistent” with Trump’s executive order. However, the U.S. Marshals Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives—both overseen by the DOJ—confirmed to ProPublica that they still require body cameras.

Discussion Questions

  1. Should law enforcement agents wear body cameras? Why or why not?
  2. What measures would you implement to keep law enforcement officers safe? Explain your answer.
  3. What measures would you implement to keep people safe during interactions with law enforcement? Explain your answer.

Sources

  • Mario Ariza, “The DEA Once Touted Body Cameras for Their ‘Enhanced Transparency.’ Now the Agency Is Abandoning Them.” (May 6, 2025), propublica.com
  • Ailia Zehra, “Border Patrol to Stop Usage of Body Cameras in the Field: Report” (February 15, 2025), thehill.com