Senator Urges Commerce Dept. to Enhance Oversight of US Gun Exports
Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., called on the Commerce Department April 29 to improve its efforts to prevent the illegal diversion of U.S. firearms exports.
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In a letter to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Wyden said he’s concerned that the Government Accountability Office recently concluded that employee shortages have hampered the ability of the Bureau of Industry and Security to conduct end-use checks for firearms exports (see 2502140001). The GAO found that the staffing shortages mean BIS often relies on the International Trade Administration to conduct the end-use checks, which conflicts with ITA’s export promotion role.
"An official charged with national security responsibilities over certain firearms cannot and should not be the same official charged with selling the same firearms," Wyden wrote.
With BIS remaining reliant on ITA at least for now, Wyden said Commerce should develop guidance outlining standard operating procedures for ITA officers who conduct end-use checks. The senator also said he wants to know whether BIS plans to hire additional export control officers, particularly for Africa and Central and South America, which account for about two-third of countries deemed at high risk for firearm diversion.
Commerce didn’t respond to a request to comment on the Wyden letter. But the department has said it would work to address the issues the GAO raised in its February report.