Two Secret Service agents have been suspended following a heated confrontation that turned physical outside former President Barack Obama's Washington D.C. home. The pre-dawn incident, which occurred in the upscale Kalorama neighborhood, has raised questions about discipline within the presidential protection agency.
According to The Independent, the altercation broke out around 2:30 a.m. on May 21 between two female officers of the Uniformed Division who were part of the security detail protecting the former president's residence.
Surveillance footage of the incident, first obtained by Real Clear Politics and published Tuesday, shows the uniformed agents, wearing bullet-resistant vests, shoving each other violently next to a white vehicle stationed outside the Obama home. The confrontation has prompted an internal investigation as the agency faces renewed scrutiny.
Shift change turns violent
The clash reportedly erupted when one officer became angry with another who was several minutes late arriving to replace her on shift. Sources familiar with the incident told Real Clear Politics that tensions escalated quickly between the two women.
In audio published alongside the surveillance footage, one of the agents can be heard requesting a supervisor, saying: "Can I get a supervisor... immediately before I whoop this girl's a**." The threatening language captured on the recording suggests the confrontation had been building before turning physical.
One source claimed the dispute intensified when the relieving officer arrived in a Dodge Durango rather than the Ford Explorer vehicle that had allegedly been requested by the agent ending her shift. An insider with knowledge of the incident described one agent's attitude during the confrontation as "dangerous."
Agency confirms suspensions
The Secret Service acknowledged the incident in a statement Tuesday, confirming both officers involved have been removed from duty while the matter is investigated. The agency characterized the situation as an "on-duty altercation" between members of the Uniformed Division.
"The U.S. Secret Service is aware of an on-duty altercation that occurred between two Uniformed Division officers at approximately 2:30 a.m. on May 21," a spokesperson stated. "The individuals involved were suspended from duty and this matter is the subject of an internal investigation."
The agency emphasized its professional standards in the statement, adding: "The Secret Service has a very strict code of conduct for all employees and any behavior that violates that code is unacceptable." Officials declined to provide additional details about the incident or identify the suspended officers.
Pattern of security concerns
This altercation marks the latest in a series of incidents involving Secret Service personnel assigned to protect current and former high-ranking officials. Last April, the agency removed an agent from then-Vice President Kamala Harris's security detail under unclear circumstances.
Former presidents and their spouses receive lifetime Secret Service protection, a benefit Barack Obama himself helped restore. In 2013, Obama signed legislation reinstating lifelong protection for former presidents, reversing a 1994 cost-cutting measure that had limited protection to just ten years after leaving office.
The Obamas' residence in Kalorama has maintained continuous security since the family moved there following their departure from the White House. The upscale neighborhood houses several diplomatic residences and high-profile Washington figures, making security protocols particularly important in the area.
Ongoing investigation unfolds
The Secret Service's internal investigation will examine what triggered the confrontation between the two agents and whether disciplinary measures beyond suspension are warranted. The incident raises concerns about professionalism within the ranks of those entrusted with protecting former presidents.
Reporter Susan Crabtree, who published the surveillance footage to social media, speculated without evidence that the incident reflected broader issues within the agency. The Secret Service has not addressed these claims and is focusing its official statements on the specific altercation.
The Obamas have not commented publicly on the incident that occurred outside their Washington home. Their office has not responded to requests for information about whether the former president or his family were present at the residence when the altercation took place.
