House Republicans are pushing to strip the IRS of firearms and ammunition, forcing them to be armed with calculators instead of guns when collecting your taxes.
At a Glance
- Republicans have introduced the “Why Does the IRS Need Guns Act” to completely disarm the tax collection agency
- The bill would prohibit the IRS from using funds to purchase, receive, or store firearms and ammunition
- Current IRS firearms would be transferred to the General Services Administration and sold to licensed dealers
- The ammunition would be auctioned to the public with proceeds going toward deficit reduction
- Rep. Barry Moore argues, “The only thing IRS agents should be armed with are calculators”
Republicans Move to Disarm the Tax Collectors
In a bold stance against what they view as government overreach, House Republicans have introduced legislation targeting the Internal Revenue Service’s arsenal. The bill, aptly named the “Why Does the IRS Need Guns Act,” would prohibit the tax collection agency from using funds to purchase, receive, or store firearms and ammunition. This proposal comes amid growing conservative concerns about the increasing militarization of federal agencies, particularly those not traditionally associated with law enforcement duties. The measure was introduced by Representative Barry Moore with support from several Republican colleagues including Reps. Harriet Hageman, Mary Miller, and Clay Higgins.
The legislation doesn’t just aim to prevent future acquisitions but would also require the IRS to transfer all existing firearms to the Administrator of General Services. These weapons would then be sold or auctioned exclusively to licensed firearms dealers. Similarly, ammunition stocks would be auctioned to the public, with proceeds directed to the Treasury specifically for deficit reduction. This approach represents a direct challenge to what many conservatives see as unnecessary armament of bureaucratic agencies that should be focused on administrative functions rather than enforcement actions requiring weaponry.
💥Proposed bill taking aim at IRS would strip agency of guns, ammo
While American taxpayers are familiar with the annual rigmarole of filing their federal taxes and realizing just how much of their hard-earned money Uncle Sam is taking away, several House Republicans are pushing… pic.twitter.com/bPVeUkRx4x
— Melissa Hallman (@dotconnectinga) April 16, 2025
Accusations of Government Weaponization
The driving force behind this legislation appears to be concerns about potential abuse of power. Rep. Moore has been particularly vocal about his perception that the IRS has been transformed into a tool for political intimidation rather than simple tax collection. According to the bill’s sponsors, the move would also transfer enforcement of tax law to the Department of Justice, while the IRS’s Criminal Investigation Division would be relocated to DOJ as a distinct entity. This restructuring would concentrate armed enforcement activities within traditional law enforcement agencies rather than distributing them across multiple federal departments.
“The IRS has consistently been weaponized against American citizens, targeted religious organizations, journalists, gun owners, and everyday Americans,” said Moore. “Arming these agents does not make the American public safer. My legislation, the Why Does the IRS Need Guns Act, would disarm these agents, auction off their guns to Federal Firearms License Owners, and sell their ammunition to the public. The only thing IRS agents should be armed with are calculators.”
The timing of the bill was not coincidental. Moore strategically announced it on Tax Day, April 15, to highlight what he sees as wasteful spending by the IRS on weapons when they should be focused on their primary duty of tax administration. “Tax Day is a great reminder that it’s time for the IRS to stop wasting our taxpayer dollars stockpiling guns and ammo,” Moore stated, reinforcing his position that tax collectors have no legitimate need for firearms. The proposal reflects broader Republican criticisms of government expansion and what they characterize as unnecessary militarization of civilian agencies.
The Bigger Picture of Federal Ammunition Procurement
The legislation targeting IRS weaponry touches on a larger conversation about how many federal agencies maintain armed divisions and why they need them. While entities like the FBI and U.S. Marshals Service have clear law enforcement mandates requiring firearms, critics question why agencies like the IRS, Social Security Administration, or Department of Education maintain armed personnel. The debate extends beyond just who should be armed to questions about ammunition procurement across the federal government, with some conservatives expressing concern about the volume of bullets being purchased by non-military agencies.
Despite the enthusiasm from its Republican sponsors, analysts remain skeptical about the bill’s chances of becoming law. With a divided Congress and likely opposition in the Democrat-controlled Senate, the measure faces significant hurdles. However, it serves an important purpose in highlighting what many conservatives see as government overreach and unnecessary armament of bureaucratic agencies. While President Trump has expressed support for reining in federal agencies, transforming this proposal into policy would require broader legislative backing than it currently enjoys.
