House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) on Tuesday joined the chorus of national lawmakers calling for a review of the federal program that transfers military gear to local police, amid ongoing unrest in Ferguson, Mo.
“The Leader supports examining the overall federal effort of giving military-type equipment to local police departments. Recent events in Ferguson show need for greater oversight and guidance, and she supports the call for hearings on this issue by Reps. Conyers, Bobby Scott, and Cohen. Cutting off all funding — like the Grayson amendment — is a blunt instrument, but oversight and appropriate scale of funding for such programs need to be examined,” said a Pelosi aide.
Rep. Alan Grayson’s (D-FL) amendment, rejected by the House two months ago, would have prohibited the transfers of specific military-grade weapons and vehicles.
Rep. Hank Johnson (D-GA) is planning on introducing a bill to ratchet back Pentagon transfers of certain military equipment to local police.
