Congress created the surplus program in the 1990s to repurpose equipment bought with taxpayer money. Initially, supplies were only given to agencies with an anti-drug and counterterrorism mission.
After 9/11 and the War on Terror, the equipment surplus grew and the program expanded. As the amount of military property sitting unused in warehouses grew, more agencies became eligible to participate in the program.
Now, any department with at least one sworn officer can participate. Supplies available to agencies range from clothes to electronics to weapons and armored vehicles. Many of the items are used, but some are brand new.
Today, the 1033 is a multi-billion dollar surplus program that has transferred about $4.2 billion worth of equipment to more than 13,000 law enforcement agencies throughout the country. In Texas, more than 700 agencies are currently participating in the program. They have received $181.99 million in equipment between 2006 and 2013.
A closer look into the 1033 program--specifically in Texas--found that it lacks adequate oversight at both the federal and state levels and has suffered from abuse. Some of the program's critics say its mass distribution of weapons and armored vehicles contributes to police militarization.
What you'll find on this site:
A fact-based,
data-driven presentation of how the 1033 program operates in Texas. The content
on this website was produced using information gathered from federal and state
documents, various publications, news reports and numerous interviews.
As you click
through the various pages, you'll find tables, charts, photos, an interactive
county map and a report that shows the types of military supplies available
through the program, how many items Texas agencies have received, how much it
costs and how some local police departments are using the program.
Copyright © 2014 Eva Lorraine Molina
Copyright © 2014 Eva Lorraine Molina
