Police militarization — the issue that briefly united conservatives and liberals over Ferguson — has turned out to be a dud . A White House review suggests largely leaving intact federal programs that provide surplus military equipment to local police departments . President Barack Obama ordered the review after widely criticized heavy-handed police response to August protests following the shooting of Michael Brown . A report released by the White House on Monday suggested making improvements to the programs , to standardize training and better track equipment . But the White House response falls short of wholesale changes that some suggested should be made after police deployed military-style vehicles on the streets of Ferguson , Missouri , after the Brown shooting . Efforts in Congress to rein in the programs have also fizzled . The White House report concluded : `` These programs , in the main , have been valuable and have provided state and local law enforcement with needed assistance as they carry out their critical missions in helping to keep the American people safe . '' Between 2009 and 2014 , the federal government has provided nearly $ 18 billion in funds and resources to support programs that provide equipment and tactical resources to state and local law enforcement . The vast majority of that money goes to back office equipment , with only 4 percent of property going to heavier , more controlled equipment . Police tactical units in recent years have taken to wearing camouflage and some agencies have received heavy-duty battlefield vehicles known as MRAPs , an acronym for Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles . What many saw as militarization , some law enforcement officials say , was what has come to be standard gear used by SWAT teams , which are n't routinely deployed on civilian streets . Some law enforcement officials say that instead of focusing on equipment , more attention should be paid to police training . Justice Department officials have pushed for improved training for St. Louis-area police agencies , moving away from `` warrior '' tendencies and toward being `` guardians '' for communities that police serve . The White House report released Monday suggested standardizing training for police to respect civil rights and liberties . The president plans to issue an executive order to tighten some of the controls over the programs to better track equipment provided to law enforcement agencies . The White House also plans to boost funding to pay for 50,000 body cameras for police officers .
White House review largely leaves intact federal programs that provide police with surplus military equipment . The response falls short of what some had called for in the wake of the Michael Brown shooting . More training will help ease concerns about police militarization , White House review says .