Norton Introduces Treasury Officer Protection Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) introduced the Department of the Treasury Officer Protection Act of 2024, which would allow Treasury Department police officers, including those who work at the U.S. Mint and the Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP), to carry their service weapons home with them after they are no longer on duty.

Currently, although both are uniformed police officers working for the Treasury Department, U.S. Mint police officers are allowed to carry their service weapons home, while BEP police officers are not. BEP officers, therefore, often carry personal firearms while commuting to and from work because they wear uniforms and could be a target as security professionals. However, BEP officers have no place to securely store their weapons at government facilities, creating possibly dangerous situations of officers having to leave their firearms in their cars. There is no meaningful distinction between police officers for the two agencies and they should be treated equally.

"Officers who protect the public, risking their own lives, should be given the protection and convenience of carrying their service weapons home to protect themselves and the public alike," Norton said. "Further, many BEP officers carry personal firearms to and from work because they are not allowed to take their government firearms home, and some are forced to leave those personal firearms in their cars while they are on duty, creating potentially dangerous situations. This bill would eliminate the need for officers to leave unguarded personal firearms in the vehicles and ensure BEP officers, who are potential targets because they wear uniforms to and from work, can protect themselves and the public even when off duty.”

Norton’s introductory statement follows.

Statement of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton on the

Introduction of the Department of the Treasury Officer Protection Act of 2024

Today, I introduce the Department of the Treasury Officer Protection Act of 2024.  This bill would help protect Treasury Department police officers and the public by allowing all the officers, including those who work at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP), to carry their government firearms home.

BEP officers are not allowed to take their government firearms home.  However, BEP officers can be targets because they wear uniforms to and from work. Many BEP officers carry personal firearms to and from work because they are not allowed to take their government firearms home, and some are forced to leave those personal firearms in their cars while they are on duty, creating a possibly dangerous situation.

Allowing BEP officers to carry their government firearms home will put them in the same position as Mint officers.  Although both agencies are under the Treasury Department, under Treasury Department rules, Mint officers are allowed to carry their government firearms home, while BEP officers are not.  There is no meaningful distinction between officers for these two agencies.  They should be treated equally.

This bill would allow all police officers in the Treasury Department to carry their government firearms home to protect officers and the public, eliminating separate carrying rules for the Treasury Department’s different law enforcement agencies.

I ask my colleagues to support this bill.

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