DHS dramatically increased spending to obtain weapons last year, report says

Source: NBC News

Feb. 19, 2026, 2:32 PM EST


The Department of Homeland Security committed to spending more than $144 million on guns, ammunition and other weapons during the first year of the Trump administration in a “drastic increase” in resources, according to a report released Thursday by Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s spending commitment on weapons increased fourfold in 2025 from the previous year, while Customs and Border Protection’s contracts on weapons doubled when compared with 2024, according to the report, which looked at publicly available government contracting data.

“Just in 2025, ICE and CBP have together placed orders to purchase thousands of new high-powered lethal weapons at taxpayer expense,” the report said.

The administration has faced heavy criticism over its use of force during immigration enforcement operations in Democratic-led cities. Images and videos flooded social media of immigration law enforcement’s violent encounters with protesters, including shooting rubber bullets, spraying chemical agents at close range and smashing car windows.

Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/ice-spending-dhs-increased-weapons-2026-report-schiff-rcna259388