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Inspector general report: ATF bought 11 drones but never flew them Inspector general report: ATF bought 11 drones but never flew them
(about 1 hour later)
The federal agency that regulates firearms spent about $600,000 on six drones, but never used them because of mechanical and technical problems and eventually disposed of them altogether, according to a new federal report released Wednesday.The federal agency that regulates firearms spent about $600,000 on six drones, but never used them because of mechanical and technical problems and eventually disposed of them altogether, according to a new federal report released Wednesday.
Even after suspending its drone program, a separate unit in the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives purchased an additional five drones for $15,000 without coordinating with the agency’s drone office — and those aircraft were grounded. Even after the drone program was suspended, a separate unit in the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives purchased an additional five drones for $15,000 without coordinating with the agency’s drone office — and those aircraft were grounded.
The findings by Justice Department Inspector General Michael E. Horowitz also revealed that the FBI has deployed its drones in 13 investigations. In the nine investigations between 2010 and 2014, the period examined by Horowitz, the FBI obtained permission from the Federal Aviation Administration. The inspector general’s report did not include information about the other investigations.The findings by Justice Department Inspector General Michael E. Horowitz also revealed that the FBI has deployed its drones in 13 investigations. In the nine investigations between 2010 and 2014, the period examined by Horowitz, the FBI obtained permission from the Federal Aviation Administration. The inspector general’s report did not include information about the other investigations.
The FBI has only one team of two pilots trained to fly all of the 17 operational drones in its fleet, which is kept at one location, limiting the bureau’s ability to quickly deploy to distant locations or several locations at the same time, the report concluded. It is the first time that the government has revealed how many drones the FBI operates; the bureau has acquired 34 drones, but not all have been put into service.The FBI has only one team of two pilots trained to fly all of the 17 operational drones in its fleet, which is kept at one location, limiting the bureau’s ability to quickly deploy to distant locations or several locations at the same time, the report concluded. It is the first time that the government has revealed how many drones the FBI operates; the bureau has acquired 34 drones, but not all have been put into service.
“The single team of [drone] pilots has needed to travel up to thousands of miles to support FBI investigations across the United States,” the report said. “Pilots told us that when deploying they either drove or flew on commercial aircraft, and that such travel could take up to a day or more before they arrived at the scene.”“The single team of [drone] pilots has needed to travel up to thousands of miles to support FBI investigations across the United States,” the report said. “Pilots told us that when deploying they either drove or flew on commercial aircraft, and that such travel could take up to a day or more before they arrived at the scene.”
No details were released about how, where and for how long the FBI’s drones were used, except to say that they provided “targeted aerial surveillance” on domestic national security missions, anti-drug-trafficking interdictions, search and rescue operations, kidnappings, and fugitive manhunts up to 2014, according to the IG report. [How crashing drones expose secrets about U.S. war operations]
No details were released about how, where and for how long the FBI’s drones were used, except to say that they provided “targeted aerial surveillance” on domestic national security missions, anti-drug-trafficking interdictions, search-and-rescue operations, kidnappings, and fugitive manhunts up to 2014, according to the IG report.
“The FBI told us that it determined it did not need to obtain search warrants for any of its [drone] operations,” the report said.“The FBI told us that it determined it did not need to obtain search warrants for any of its [drone] operations,” the report said.
The report does not disclose what kinds of drones are flown by the FBI or were in possession of the ATF.The report does not disclose what kinds of drones are flown by the FBI or were in possession of the ATF.
“We’ve used small unmanned aircraft system devices in support of a very limited number of investigations,” said FBI spokesman Paul Bresson. “As part of this process, we’ve obtained all required FAA approvals to use them.”“We’ve used small unmanned aircraft system devices in support of a very limited number of investigations,” said FBI spokesman Paul Bresson. “As part of this process, we’ve obtained all required FAA approvals to use them.”
The FBI plans to station drones at some field offices over the next five years, the report said.The FBI plans to station drones at some field offices over the next five years, the report said.
Among the Justice Department agencies, which include the ATF, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the U.S. Marshals Service, only the FBI operationally deploys its own drones.Among the Justice Department agencies, which include the ATF, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the U.S. Marshals Service, only the FBI operationally deploys its own drones.
ATF spokeswoman Ginger Colbrun said that the agency acquired six rotary wing drone platforms, “but determined through testing that each platform fell short . . . and therefore none of them were technologically suitable to support ATF operations.” ATF spokeswoman Ginger Colbrun said that the agency acquired six rotary-wing drone platforms, “but determined through testing that each platform fell short . . . and therefore none of them were technologically suitable to support ATF operations.”
In June, the ATF ended the program and transferred the platforms to “another government agency” at no additional cost to taxpayers, she said.In June, the ATF ended the program and transferred the platforms to “another government agency” at no additional cost to taxpayers, she said.
Horowitz found that Justice Department agencies have also received support from Department of Homeland Security drones, sometimes to assist in police emergencies. U.S. Customs and Border Protection, for example, has loaned its Predator drones to the FBI, DEA and ATF dozens of times. In one case, the ATF requested that CBP conduct three drone flights along the U.S.-Canadian border to “help it prepare a search warrant” for a firearms trafficking investigation. Horowitz found that Justice Department agencies have also received support from Department of Homeland Security drones, sometimes to assist in police emergencies. U.S. Customs and Border Protection, for example, has lent its Predator drones to the FBI, DEA and ATF dozens of times. In one case, the ATF requested that CBP conduct three drone flights along the U.S.-Canada border to “help it prepare a search warrant” for a firearms-trafficking investigation.
But the agencies did not have record-keeping policies or practices to document the support, making it difficult to assess their need for drones or how to use them most effectively in their operations, the report said. But the agencies did not have record-keeping policies or practices to document the support, making it difficult to assess their need for drones or how the craft could be used most effectively in their operations, the report said.
Last month, the White House issued a presidential directive requiring federal agencies for the first time to publicly disclose information about their drone use, including where they fly them in the United States and what they do with the data collected from aerial surveillance.Last month, the White House issued a presidential directive requiring federal agencies for the first time to publicly disclose information about their drone use, including where they fly them in the United States and what they do with the data collected from aerial surveillance.
Craig Whitlock contributed to this report.Craig Whitlock contributed to this report.