The 1944 Surplus Property Act provided for the disposal of surplus government property. The 1033 Program was created in 1990 under George H. W. Bush. in the War On Drugs.
The Law Enforcement Support Office (LESO) program transfers excess Department of Defense (DOD) property to federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.
In May 2015, President Barack Obama signed Executive Order 13688, limiting and prohibiting the transfer of certain types of weapons and equipment to law enforcement agencies through the 1033 Program, including large-caliber weaponry, tracked armored vehicles, grenade launchers, and camouflage. On 28 August 2017, President Donald Trump rolled back Executive Order 13688, effective immediately.
On 25 May 2022, President Joe Biden issued Executive Order 14074, addressing police reform. Section 12 prohibited or limited to specific uses the transfer of a number of military items, including firearms of .50 caliber or greater, silencers, bayonets, vehicles without a commercial application, explosives, weaponized drones, and long-range acoustic devices. The order also increased application and certification requirements for law enforcement agencies seeking materiel. Section 12 applied to the 1033 Program and other federal equipment transfer programs. "For security reasons [1033 Program record] information is not subject to public review".
A multi-billion dollar industry exists to provide ammunition, armor and safety equipment for the military products that are distributed to local enforcement.