Ernst Works to Disarm IRS

WASHINGTON – Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) is leading the charge to end the Internal Revenue Service’s (IRS) waste of taxpayer dollars to arm its agents.

The IRS has spent $35.2 million on guns, ammunition, and military-style equipment since 2006, including $10 million in weaponry and gear since 2020. These purchases are used by the IRS’ Criminal Investigation Division that has jurisdiction over federal tax crimes.

“The taxman is fully loaded at the expense of the taxpayer,” Ernst said. “As the Biden administration has worked to expand the size of the IRS, any further weaponization of this federal agency against hardworking Americans and small businesses is a grave concern. I’m working to disarm the IRS and return these dollars to address reckless spending in Washington.”

"The IRS isn't going to war, so just who are they preparing to battle? Our OpenTheBooks auditors found the IRS spent millions of tax dollars on AR-15 style rifles, semi-automatic shotguns, and even purchased submachine guns while stockpiling 5 million rounds of ammunition in their gun locker. The IRS special agent is starting to look less like a desk worker or rule maker and more like a SWAT team from a Hollywood thriller. It's the blurring of the lines between a tax agency and traditional law enforcement,” said Adam Andrzejewski, Founder and CEO of Open the Books.

The Why Does the IRS Have Guns Act would:

• Prohibit the IRS from buying, receiving, or storing guns and ammo,
• Transfer all guns and ammo currently in the IRS’ possession to the General Services Administration,
• Auction off these guns and ammo to Federal Firearms License owners and devote proceeds to deficit reduction, and
• Relocate the IRS Criminal Investigation Division within the Justice Department.

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