Under Trump, the military's secret program lets local cops get armored cars and spyware for a steal.
A federal program that allows local police to buy discounted military gear has been quietly helping American law enforcement agencies upgrade their equipment. Under President Donald Trump, the 1122 program is set to expand its reach, providing even more opportunities for local cops to acquire expensive surveillance systems and armored vehicles at significantly reduced prices.
The program, which was created in 1994 under the National Defense Authorization Act, allows federal defense officials to purchase surplus military gear for use by state and local police departments. The catch: they get it for up to 80% off retail price.
Police departments across America are snapping up everything from armored vehicles to thermal imaging systems – all for a fraction of what it would cost in the civilian market. For example, one Texas agency bought a $1.5 million license to use advanced surveillance software, while another bought an $89,000 covert camera system.
But critics say that this program is a threat to free speech and civil liberties. "All of these things combined serve as a threat to free speech, an intimidation tactic to protest," said Lillian Mauldin, co-founder of the nonprofit group Women for Weapons Trade Transparency. The group estimates that the total value of purchases made by local police through the 1122 program could be in excess of $500 million – although it's difficult to determine the exact amount due to the lack of transparency from the Department of Defense.
Trump has recently taken steps to expand the reach of this program, revoking an executive order issued by his predecessor Joe Biden that aimed to curb its growth. This move has raised concerns among human rights groups and civil liberties advocates, who fear that it could lead to even more militarization of American police forces.
In recent years, there have been numerous instances of police departments using military-style equipment against protesters and minority communities. The 1122 program is seen as a key contributor to this trend, providing local cops with the tools they need to assert their authority in high-profile situations.
Critics argue that the program is nothing more than a handout for law enforcement agencies struggling to make ends meet. "It really calls into question," Mauldin said, "when so many cities in the U.S. are facing crises of homelessness, of food insecurity, of rising rent prices, how are police departments justifying these hundreds of thousands of dollars' worth of purchases?"
The 1122 program is already a shadowy cousin to another controversial military equipment-sharing program called the 1033 program, which has been widely criticized for fueling militarization in American communities. The Intercept reported last year that this program had shipped over $7 billion worth of equipment to local police departments since its inception.
As the Trump administration pushes forward with plans to expand the reach of the 1122 program, there are growing concerns about the impact it could have on civil liberties and public safety. Whether or not these efforts will be stopped remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the militarization of American policing has reached a critical juncture, and its future trajectory hangs in the balance.
A federal program that allows local police to buy discounted military gear has been quietly helping American law enforcement agencies upgrade their equipment. Under President Donald Trump, the 1122 program is set to expand its reach, providing even more opportunities for local cops to acquire expensive surveillance systems and armored vehicles at significantly reduced prices.
The program, which was created in 1994 under the National Defense Authorization Act, allows federal defense officials to purchase surplus military gear for use by state and local police departments. The catch: they get it for up to 80% off retail price.
Police departments across America are snapping up everything from armored vehicles to thermal imaging systems – all for a fraction of what it would cost in the civilian market. For example, one Texas agency bought a $1.5 million license to use advanced surveillance software, while another bought an $89,000 covert camera system.
But critics say that this program is a threat to free speech and civil liberties. "All of these things combined serve as a threat to free speech, an intimidation tactic to protest," said Lillian Mauldin, co-founder of the nonprofit group Women for Weapons Trade Transparency. The group estimates that the total value of purchases made by local police through the 1122 program could be in excess of $500 million – although it's difficult to determine the exact amount due to the lack of transparency from the Department of Defense.
Trump has recently taken steps to expand the reach of this program, revoking an executive order issued by his predecessor Joe Biden that aimed to curb its growth. This move has raised concerns among human rights groups and civil liberties advocates, who fear that it could lead to even more militarization of American police forces.
In recent years, there have been numerous instances of police departments using military-style equipment against protesters and minority communities. The 1122 program is seen as a key contributor to this trend, providing local cops with the tools they need to assert their authority in high-profile situations.
Critics argue that the program is nothing more than a handout for law enforcement agencies struggling to make ends meet. "It really calls into question," Mauldin said, "when so many cities in the U.S. are facing crises of homelessness, of food insecurity, of rising rent prices, how are police departments justifying these hundreds of thousands of dollars' worth of purchases?"
The 1122 program is already a shadowy cousin to another controversial military equipment-sharing program called the 1033 program, which has been widely criticized for fueling militarization in American communities. The Intercept reported last year that this program had shipped over $7 billion worth of equipment to local police departments since its inception.
As the Trump administration pushes forward with plans to expand the reach of the 1122 program, there are growing concerns about the impact it could have on civil liberties and public safety. Whether or not these efforts will be stopped remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the militarization of American policing has reached a critical juncture, and its future trajectory hangs in the balance.
. It's like they're getting special treatment just because they want it. If regular people had to pay for that kinda stuff, it'd be a total budget buster 
. And what's up with the whole "surplus" thing? Sounds like some kinda loophole 
. Can't we get away from this kind of militarization in our communities? It just feels so... heavy-handed 
.
this whole thing is just worrying... i mean, police departments already have enough resources to do their jobs without resorting to military-grade gear. it's not like they're getting this stuff for free or anything... they're still paying 20% of the original price 
. but seriously, what's to stop them from using this surveillance tech against peaceful protesters? 
this is wild, I mean what's up with our police forces getting free military gear? Like isn't there more pressing issues to deal with, like poverty and homelessness? 
... what's next? Police departments having their own SWAT teams to deal with minor disputes? 
...
. And don't even get me started on the lack of transparency from the Department of Defense 
. I think we need to have a serious conversation about this program and how it's affecting our communities 
. We can't just let law enforcement agencies use military-grade equipment to silence dissent and intimidate minority communities 
. It's time for us to take a closer look at what's really going on here 
.
like what's next for America? The more I think about it the more I'm worried that our police departments are going to become so militarized that we can't even walk down the street without being treated like a suspect 
. And $500 million?!?! That's insane 
and don't even get me started on the thermal imaging systems 
those things are creepy enough as it is! 
. It's like they're giving police departments a way to suppress free speech and intimidate communities without any real oversight. I mean, $500 million worth of equipment is just crazy talk! 
How can we trust that this isn't just more of a handout for cops who want to flex their military muscles? 
.
. I mean, we already know that militarization of police forces has been a major problem in this country, and now it seems like it's getting worse 
.
. And what really gets me is that they're getting all this gear at 80% off retail price