Bice questions IRS about $10 million worth of weapons and ammunition purchased since 2020
Misty Severi
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Rep. Stephanie Bice (R-OK) demanded the IRS give a full accounting of the millions of dollars it has spent on weapons and gear since 2020.
Bice cited a growing concern in the militarization of the department as the reason for her request in a letter to IRS Commissioner Daniel Werfel sent Tuesday.
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“I write to you today to express my concerns regarding the increased rate of weapon purchases by the Internal Revenue Service,” Bice wrote. “While I recognize the Criminal Investigation division has a law enforcement role, recent reports have indicated that the IRS has made substantial purchases of weaponry and tactical gear. As a civilian agency whose stated mission is to ‘Provide America’s taxpayers top-quality service by helping them understand and meet their tax responsibilities and enforce the law with integrity and fairness to all,’ the increasing militarization of the IRS is of growing concern.”
The Criminal Investigation Division of the IRS is the only branch that can carry firearms and does so for safety reasons. The division investigates financial crimes, such as money laundering, terrorist financial efforts, and tax-related identity theft.
In her letter, Bice requested a detailed list of the items the IRS possesses and the quantity, including weapons, weapon systems, ammunition, explosive devices, armored vehicles, drones/UAVs, and chemical weapons. Werfel was given one week to respond.
The letter comes after a government watchdog, OpenTheBooks, found that the IRS has spent nearly $10 million on weapons, ammunition, and military-style gear since 2020. The $10 million comes out of the roughly $35.2 million it spent since 2006, according to the report. The $35 million is adjusted for inflation.
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“Since taking office, Biden has repeatedly attempted to supercharge an already weaponized IRS,” Bice told Fox News. “This includes the increasing militarization of what is supposed to be a civilian tax enforcement agency. We need to know exactly the types and quantities of weapons and ammunition the IRS has in their possession.”
The Biden administration recently allocated $80 billion to the IRS as part of its Inflation Reduction Act that was passed last year.