The Department of Homeland Security committed more than $144 million to weapons, ammunition and related equipment in 2025, a sharp increase from the prior year, according to a new report analyzing federal procurement data, as Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection expand enforcement operations under President Donald Trump's second term.
The report, based on data from USASpending.gov and the Federal Procurement Data System, found that ICE increased spending commitments for weapons, ammunition and accessories by more than 360%, rising from $16 million in 2024 to more than $76 million in 2025. CBP more than doubled comparable expenditures, from $32.97 million in 2024 to more than $68 million this year.
The procurement surge spans lethal and less-lethal categories.
According to the report, DHS contracts in 2025 included:
- More than $30 million for ammunition
- More than $25 million for less-lethal weapons and crowd-control tools, including tear gas, pepper spray and Tasers
- $30 million for personal armor
- $15.46 million for "guns through 30mm," including pistols, AR-style rifles and submachine guns
In September 2025, DHS agreed to purchase thousands of precision long guns and related equipment intended to "support armed agents and ICE-Office of Firearms and Tactical Programs," in a deal valued at $9.1 million.
CBP separately ordered $3.25 million in 9mm duty handguns, repair parts and accessories from Glock Inc., followed by an additional order worth more than $640,000 for additional 9mm handguns from the same company.
"ICE and CBP have together placed orders to purchase thousands of new high-powered lethal weapons at taxpayer expense," the report states.
The increase coincides with an intensified immigration enforcement campaign that has drawn national scrutiny. According to NBC News, federal officers conducting immigration operations nationwide have shot 13 people. Hundreds have reportedly been injured during enforcement actions, and courts in at least four states have found that officers used force inappropriately and indiscriminately.
Recent fatal incidents in Minneapolis involving Renée Good and Alex Pretti have heightened criticism of the administration's tactics.
Sen. Adam Schiff criticized the procurement expansion, stating, "This misuse of taxpayer dollars to maximally arm federal immigration agents, including those with questionable vetting and insufficient training, must end."
The Department of Homeland Security rejected the criticism. DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin told CNN the issue was a "non-story" and said the agency has hired thousands of additional agents to meet enforcement targets. "It should come as no surprise that we purchase and acquire firearms for law enforcement," she told CNN.
The report argues that the spending reflects not only operational needs but also a structural shift in domestic enforcement posture. "Against this backdrop, this report seeks not only to shine a light on the significant increase in spending by ICE and CBP on weapons, but also to sound the alarm about DHS's growing plans to build a heavily armed domestic police force," it states.
