Brief 1 – Scale and Scope

The Scale and Scope of Domestic Militarization
in the United States

Abstract

Domestic militarization, the transfer of military equipment, tactics, and personnel to domestic law enforcement and civilian security contexts has reached unprecedented scale in the United States. This brief documents three interconnected militarization pathways: 1. The Department of Defense 1033 Program, which has transferred $7.6 billion in military equipment to 8,200+ law enforcement agencies since 1997; 2. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) expansion, now receiving a historic $75 billion through 2029 for detention and enforcement operations; and 3. National Guard deployments to domestic operations, including border missions and urban policing contexts.

Together, these mechanisms represent a fundamental shift in how the federal government channels military resources, personnel, and tactics into American communities. The fiscal and operational scale of these programs dwarfs traditional police training and workforce development investments, creating a cascading effect on community safety, employment patterns, and democratic accountability.

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