	Background

		DHS and DOJ Components in Our Review with Firearm- Carrying Personnel

DHS and DOJ have several components with law enforcement functions  whose personnel are authorized to carry firearms in support of  accomplishing their respective missions. As of  October 2013, DHS said these plans are in the development stage. DHS’s Ammunition Purchases Have Declined in Recent Years and Vary Based on Numerous Factors; Annual Ammunition Purchases are Comparable to DOJ’s

In fiscal year 2013, DHS purchased 84 million rounds of ammunition for  its authorized firearm-carrying workforce, which is less than DHS’s  ammunition purchases each year over the past 5 fiscal years. DHS  ammunition purchases are driven primarily by the firearms training and  qualification requirements for the firearm-carrying workforce, though other  factors are also considered by DHS when making ammunition purchase  decisions. DHS’s  ammunition purchases over the 6-year period equate to an average of 1,200 rounds of ammunition purchased per agent or officer per year.The annual total cost for these ammunition purchases ranged from $19  million to $34 million per year, with an average of $29 million for the 6- year time period. Other factors that account for changes in ammunition  purchases year to year include qualification and training requirements  and amount of ammunition in inventory, as discussed later in this report. We analyzed DHS data on ammunition  purchases and the size of the firearm-carrying workforce for fiscal years  2008 through 2013 and found the average number of rounds of  ammunition purchased per year per firearm-carrying agent or officer by  component for this time period ranged between approximately 1,000 and  2,000 rounds, as shown in table 2. Training and qualification requirements vary  for the components in our review, as do the number of rounds of  ammunition typically used for training and qualification purposes. DHS Qualification and Training Requirements

DHS’s more than 70,000 firearm-carrying personnel have qualification  requirements they must fulfill to ensure firearms proficiency. According to our analysis of estimated ammunition usage  data provided by DHS components, for fiscal years 2008 through 2013,  DHS components in our review estimated using, on average,  approximately 110 million rounds of ammunition per fiscal year, with a  high of about 141 million rounds in fiscal year 2009 to a low of about 89  million rounds in fiscal year 2013 (see figure 4). As stated earlier, there can be  months-long delays between placing an order for ammunition and  receiving it. To help ensure components have sufficient ammunition on  hand to support the training and operational needs of their officers, DHS  components maintain inventories of ammunition. For DOJ components, the average number of rounds of ammunition  purchased per authorized firearm-carrying agent or officer per year  across fiscal years 2011 through 2013 was approximately 1,300 rounds. Ammunition inventory data provided by two of the three DOJ  components indicated that inventory ranged from about 13 months’ worth  to about 20 months’ worth.DHS components. What are the trends in the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS)  ammunition purchases since fiscal year 2008, what factors affect its  purchase decisions, and how do DHS’s purchases compare with  those of the Department of Justice’s (DOJ)? What policies and guidance does DHS have for managing firearms  and ammunition inventories? To determine any trends in DHS’s ammunition purchases since fiscal  year 2008, we obtained available data from DHS law enforcement  components with firearm-carrying personnel regarding their ammunition  purchases, costs, usage, and the size of the authorized firearm-carrying  workforce for fiscal years 2008 through 2013.
Why GAO Did This Study

DHS and its components have homeland security and law enforcement missions that require agents and officers to carry and be proficient in the use of firearms. DHS has more than 70,000 firearm-carrying personnel—the most of any department. DOJ has the next largest with approximately 69,000 firearm-carrying personnel. GAO was asked to examine DHS's ammunition purchases and management of ammunition and firearms. This report addresses trends in DHS's ammunition purchases since fiscal year 2008, how DHS's purchases compare with DOJ's, and what factors affect DHS's purchase decisions. GAO analyzed data from six DHS and three DOJ components that have law enforcement missions, require agents and officers to carry firearms, and purchase ammunition themselves or through their respective departments. Specifically, GAO analyzed data on ammunition purchases, usage, costs, and inventories, among other things, for fiscal years 2008 through 2013 for DHS, and for fiscal years 2011 through 2013 for DOJ. GAO assessed the reliability of these data and found them sufficiently reliable. Data on DOJ ammunition purchases prior to fiscal year 2011 were not readily available; therefore, GAO excluded them, as discussed in the report.

What GAO Found

The Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) annual ammunition purchases have declined since fiscal year 2009 and are comparable in number to the Department of Justice's (DOJ) ammunition purchases. In fiscal year 2013, DHS purchased 84 million rounds of ammunition, which is less than DHS's ammunition purchases over the past 5 fiscal years, as shown in the figure below. DHS component officials said the decline in ammunition purchases in fiscal year 2013 was primarily a result of budget constraints, which meant reducing the number of training classes, and drawing on their ammunition inventories. From fiscal years 2008 through 2013, DHS purchased an average of 109 million rounds of ammunition for training, qualification, and operational needs, according to DHS data. DHS's ammunition purchases over the 6-year period equates to an average of 1,200 rounds purchased per firearm-carrying agent or officer per year. Over the past 3 fiscal years (2011-2013), DHS purchased an average of 1,000 rounds per firearm-carrying agent or officer and selected DOJ components purchased 1,300 rounds per firearm-carrying agent or officer.
DHS ammunition purchases are driven primarily by firearm training and qualification requirements. Most DHS firearm-carrying personnel are required to qualify four times per year, though requirements vary by component, as do the number of rounds of ammunition typically used for training and qualification. DHS components also reported considering other factors when making ammunition purchase decisions, such as changes in firearms, usage rates, and ammunition inventories. DHS components maintain inventories of ammunition to help ensure they have sufficient ammunition for the training and operational needs of their officers, as there can be months-long delays between placing an order for ammunition and receiving it. As of October 2013, DHS estimates it had approximately 159 million rounds in inventory, enough to last about 22 months to meet the training and operational needs of its firearm-carrying personnel. Ammunition inventory data provided by DOJ components indicated that inventory ranged from about 13 months' worth to about 20 months' worth.

What GAO Recommends

GAO is not making any recommendations.