In the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Years 1990 and 1991, Congress authorized the transfer of excess DoD property to federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. Through subsequent revisions, the NDAA for Fiscal Year 1997 established the Law Enforcement Support Office (LESO) Program to facilitate 10 USC 2576a.
Under this authority, excess Department of Defense property (equipment) that might otherwise be destroyed, may be conditionally transferred to participating law enforcement agencies across the United States and its Territories.
No equipment is purchased for distribution. All items were DoD excess equipment or had been held as part of reserve stocks until no longer needed.
Since inception, the program has transferred over $7.7 Billion worth of equipment (based on the items Original Acquisition Value [OAV]). In Fiscal Year 2021, $196 Million (based on OAV) worth of equipment was conditionally transferred to participating law enforcement agencies.
Items that are requested via the program include clothing, office supplies, tools, rescue equipment, vehicles, and small arms.
Since program inception, less than 2 percent of equipment transferred are small arms and less than one percent are tactical vehicles.
More than 8,800 law enforcement agencies have enrolled in the program.