Body Cam Footage Exposes DOGE’s Raid on U.S. Institute of Peace

Newly released body camera footage from a March 2025 incident at the U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP) provides a dramatic glimpse into the Trump administration’s push to overhaul federal agencies through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

The footage, obtained via a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit by independent journalist Marisa Kabas of The Handbasket, captures confrontations as DOGE personnel, supported by D.C. Metropolitan Police officers, entered the building and evicted staff following presidential directives.

The event occurred on March 17, 2025, amid broader efforts to “drain the swamp” by targeting perceived inefficiencies and misuse of taxpayer funds.

According to statements from DOGE and Elon Musk, USIP, which receives approximately $55 million annually in congressional funding, had engaged in questionable practices. These included transferring roughly $13 million over the past decade to a private endowment with limited oversight, primarily for events and travel. Canceled contracts highlighted by DOGE involved $675,000 for private aviation services, $1.3 million to the Al Tadhamun Iraqi League for Youth, $132,000 to Mohammad Qasem Halimi (described as a former Taliban member and Afghanistan’s ex-Chief of Protocol), and $2.23 million to an outside accountant.

Musk claimed on X that USIP’s chief accountant attempted to delete over a terabyte of financial data during the takeover in a bid to conceal irregularities, though DOGE reportedly recovered it for review by the Department of Justice.

The body cam videos show resistance from individuals inside the building, including non-USIP employees such as lawyers who described themselves as representing the institute. One attorney, George Foote, reportedly pushed for Trump officials to be arrested as unauthorized intruders. Officers grew impatient as some defiant personnel refused to leave despite orders, with exchanges labeling the actions as overreach or “jackbooted” tactics. Footage also indicates DOGE team members acknowledged the building as private property during discussions with police before entry via a side door, using tools to access locked areas.

Edward Coristine (known online as “Big Balls”), a former DOGE staffer, described USIP in prior comments as one of the “least peaceful” agencies encountered, citing issues like an armory and controversial contracts.

This was a necessary confrontation by DOGE with entrenched bureaucracy and entitlement in Washington, where unelected officials allegedly resisted accountability after the people’s elected choice mandated change.

The nearly six hours of released footage offers the American people raw insight into the high-stakes clashes that marked early DOGE operations, whilst highlighting the challenges of reforming long-standing institutions.

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