1. United States
2. Mo.
3. Letter

I am writing as a constituent to express concern regarding recent reporting about increased weapons and ammunition procurement by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement ICE and Customs and Border Protection CBP, and to request congressional oversight of these expenditures. On February 19, 2026, Senator Adam Schiff of California released an oversight report analyzing federal contracting data and finding that ICE and CBP together committed more than 144 million dollars in contracts for weapons, ammunition, and related accessories over the past year. According to the press release issued by Senator Schiff’s office, ICE’s spending commitments on weapons, ammunition, and accessories increased by more than 360 percent compared to 2024 levels, while CBP’s spending roughly doubled over the same period. The report summary also references contracts for AR style rifles, handguns, tens of millions of dollars in ammunition, and less lethal items such as tear gas, pepper spray, and TASER devices. Source: Office of Senator Adam Schiff press release, February 19, 2026 Website: schiff.senate.gov, see press releases section Independent reporting has further analyzed these findings. An article in The New Republic titled “Trump’s ICE Is Quietly Stockpiling Weaponry and It Should Alarm Us All” discusses the same contracting data and characterizes the expansion as building a substantially larger federal immigration enforcement arsenal, including thousands of firearms and related equipment. Source: The New Republic Website: newrepublic.com, search article title above Given the scale of these reported expenditures, I respectfully urge you to: Support hearings or formal oversight regarding the scope and purpose of these weapons acquisitions. Review training standards, use of force policies, and civil rights safeguards associated with expanded armament. Ensure transparency so that taxpayers understand how and why these funds are being used. Regardless of party affiliation, I believe Congress has a responsibility to ensure accountability, proportionality, and public safety in federal law enforcement procurement.