DOJ Watchdog Expresses Concerns About Process for Destroying Firearms By the FBI, DEA

A DOJ watchdog uncovered alarming lapses in the FBI and DEA’s handling of employee-issued firearms, raising concerns about potential criminal misuse.

At a Glance

Parts of a DEA firearm meant for destruction in 2019 were found in a “Ghost Gun” used in a crime in 2023.
Firearm parts were stored in open bins accessible to thousands of DEA and FBI employees and contractors.
Neither the DEA nor the FBI has policies to address the storage and documentation of firearms awaiting destruction.
The OIG found 100 firearms intended for destruction in 2019 were unaccounted for, with no official documentation.
Both agencies have agreed to implement the OIG’s recommendations to improve security and procedures.

Watchdog Uncovers Serious Concerns

The Department of Justice Inspector General, Michael E. Horowitz, has raised significant concerns about the handling of employee-issued firearms by the FBI and DEA. The investigation revealed alarming lapses in security and documentation procedures, potentially putting public safety at risk.

“The OIG identified these concerns in connection with an investigation of a recovered privately made firearm (PMF), also known as a ‘Ghost Gun,’ that contained an unserialized frame attached to a slide and barrel of a DEA employee-issued firearm,” Inspector General Michael Horowitz said in a memo.

Horowitz expressed concerns about the agencies’ firearm destruction processes. DEA records showed that the firearm parts were submitted for destruction in 2019, yet they resurfaced in a criminal case four years later. This incident underscores the potential for mishandled firearms to end up in the wrong hands.

Lax Security and Documentation

The investigation uncovered that firearm parts awaiting destruction were stored in open bins in a “gun cleaning room” at the Quantico training academy. This area was accessible to thousands of employees, contractors, and others, with minimal security measures in place.

“We concluded that inadequate policies regarding the destruction of employee issued firearms create significant risks that firearms or their parts could be lost or stolen and used in subsequent crimes without accountability,” the Office of the Inspector General wrote in a statement.

Adding to the concern, the OIG discovered that 100 firearms intended for destruction in 2019 were unaccounted for, with no official documentation of their status or whereabouts.

Policy Gaps and Recommendations

The audit revealed significant policy gaps in both agencies regarding the handling and destruction of employee-issued firearms. It was found that neither the DEA nor the FBI had comprehensive policies addressing the storage, documentation, and safe handling of firearms pending destruction.

DEA does not have any official policies regarding the storage, documentation, and safe handling of employee issued firearms pending destruction,” the OIG statement read. In addition, it stated the “FBI’s policies have significant gaps with respect to the destruction of employee issued firearms.”

In response to these findings, the OIG made four recommendations to improve security and accountability. Both the FBI and DEA have agreed to implement these recommendations, which include developing robust policies, improving storage security, and enhancing documentation procedures.

Agency Responses and Future Steps

The FBI has committed to securing firearms awaiting destruction and updating training policies for secure storage and documentation. Alfred Watson of the FBI stated, “We agree that having both a robust documented policy covering the destruction of employee-issued firearms and documentation of our existing training process for relevant FBI employees on the topic, would address concerns identified in the memorandum.”

Similarly, the DEA is finalizing policies and procedures for storage, documentation, and destruction of employee-issued firearms and will provide related training. The FBI has also relocated its gun handling unit to Alabama in 2021, potentially addressing some of the security concerns raised in the report.

As the agencies work to implement these changes, the Inspector General has demanded follow-up reports to ensure better care of gun parts and prevent future incidents.