IRS spent $10M on weapons during COVID-19 pandemic, says watchdog.

IRS Spends Millions on Guns and Combat Gear

Did you know that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has been spending millions on guns, ammunition, and combat gear since 2020? According to a report by Open The Books, a watchdog group that tracks government spending, the agency has spent a total of $10 million on weaponry and gear since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

The report found that the IRS has spent $2.3 million on duty ammunition, $1.2 million on ballistic shields, and another $1.3 million on “various other gear for criminal investigation agents.” Additionally, the agency has spent $474,000 on Smith & Wesson rifles, $463,000 on Beretta 1301 tactical shotguns, and $243,000 on body armor vests since 2020.

But that’s not all. The report also revealed that the agency has spent $467,000 on duty tactical lighting, $354,000 on tactical gear bags, and $267,000 on ballistic helmets in the same time. Since 2006, the IRS has spent a whopping $35.2 million (adjusted for inflation) on guns, ammunition, and military-style equipment.

Billions in IRS Funding

While the IRS employed 80,006 full-time staffers as of the 2022 budget year, according to the agency’s strategic operating plan (pdf) released on April 6, the Treasury Department has claimed that the agency could hire 86,852 new employees over the next decade in order to bolster operations if it were to receive the nearly $80 billion in funding.

However, Republican lawmakers have raised concerns regarding the nearly $80 billion in IRS funding, including $45.6 billion for “enforcement” that the IRS is set to receive through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). They are concerned that the additional funding could be used to target everyday Americans. On the other hand, the Biden administration has vowed that the money will lead to more audits for wealthy millionaires, billionaires, and large corporations.

IRS Denies Targeting Middle-Income Americans

Separately, then-IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig stated in a letter to members of the Senate in August last year that the additional funding will “absolutely not” be used to increase audit scrutiny on small businesses or middle-income Americans and will instead help the agency in “challenging” areas such as audits of large corporate and global high-net-worth taxpayers.

The Open The Books report also comes after current IRS Commissioner Daniel Werfel told lawmakers last month that the agency plans to hire an estimated 360 additional staff who are authorized to carry guns over the next five years.

Why is the IRS Stocking Up on Guns and Combat Gear?

According to an IRS spokesperson, the agency’s Criminal Investigation special agents “have been using weapons throughout their history as they have consistently found themselves investigating the most dangerous criminals involved in organized crime, drugs, and gangs.”

“These types of cases are typically worked in conjunction with other state and federal law enforcement agencies. Firearms and equipment are also used for training purposes. Special agents are required to train and qualify for their weapons and must participate in quarterly trainings to maintain proficiency,” the spokesperson added.

What do you think about the IRS spending millions on guns and combat gear? Let us know in the comments below.