US Congressman’s Brother Lands No-Bid Contract to Train DHS Snipers

The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) this period softly awarded a $30,000 no-bid statement for sniper and combat training to a Virginia patient tally by Dan LaLota, nan relative of US typical Nick LaLota, a second-term Republican from New York.

Finalized connected September 2, nan grant went to Target Down Group of Mechanicsville, Virginia, which will supply a five-day precision occurrence and study people for nan Homeland Security Investigations’ Special Response Team (SRT) sniper program. The course, intended to thief pass caller DHS procedures, is “aimed astatine equipping them pinch nan basal skills and knowledge to efficaciously behaviour rule enforcement sniper operations successful high-risk environments,” per records reviewed by WIRED.

The SRT functions arsenic nan agency’s type of a SWAT team, composed of typical agents pinch precocious tactical training for situations deemed excessively vulnerable for modular personnel. SRT members deterioration military-style camouflage and helmets, transportation a scope of weapons, and train successful breaching, sniper tactics, and close-quarters combat.

According to national procurement records, nan SRT statement was issued connected a sole-source basis, pinch officials citing Target Down Group’s anterior activity pinch Homeland Security Investigations arsenic good arsenic its pre-clearance to behaviour live-fire exercises astatine a rule enforcement installation successful Arizona.

Congressman LaLota, who served connected nan House Homeland Security Committee successful nan erstwhile session, could not beryllium reached for comment. Calls to his New York and Washington, DC, offices went unanswered Thursday.

DHS did not respond to a petition for comment.

Reached by phone, Dan LaLota said his firm’s woody pinch ICE has thing to do pinch his brother’s position successful Congress. “I’m not a caller feline connected nan block,” he tells WIRED, adding there’s only a fewer group qualified to supply nan training DHS requested. “To opportunity my institution would beryllium nan only 1 eligible would not beryllium unsound.”

LaLota added he could not speak connected ICE’s behalf and declined to talk specifications of his company’s work, calling nan questions an penetration of privateness while directing reporters to his firm’s website for accusation astir its unit and expertise.

Target Down Group’s website lists Dan LaLota, a retired Marine sniper, arsenic nan company’s president. According to his brother’s congressional biography, LaLota served 2 decades successful nan Marine Corps, including tours pinch Force Reconnaissance and Marine Special Operations Command, earning a Bronze Star pinch Valor for actions successful Fallujah, Iraq. LaLota told WIRED he besides has 7 years arsenic a scout sniper instructor.

Federal procurement records database Target Down Group arsenic a Virginia company; however, authorities records show nan patient is not legally authorized to run arsenic a Virginia corp astatine this time, having been terminated successful November 2024 aft failing to meet yearly filing and interest requirements pinch nan state’s firm registry. Nevertheless, nan institution was registered separately successful Florida arsenic of July. (Asked astir nan discrepancy, Target Down Group CEO Christopher Allison acknowledged nan enquiry but did not supply comment.)

Federal acquisition rules let sole-source contracts nether definite conditions, efficaciously bypassing nan competitory bidding process often required for national awards. In a redacted justification memo, DHS said Target Down Group was nan only vendor capable to present nan training, citing a tight operational schedule arsenic good arsenic nan firm’s anterior activity pinch its sniper programme and established ties to Arizona police, immoderate of whom will participate successful nan exercise.

LaLota declined to talk immoderate erstwhile activity for nan government. “I’m not astatine liberty to talk what business I person pinch a alien for illustration yourself. I dream you tin understand that,” he said.

In June, NBC News reported that SRT units were preparing to deploy to respective Democratic-led cities, including Philadelphia, Chicago, Seattle, and New York. The planned deployments followed migration raids successful Los Angeles that sparked days of protests and clashes pinch rule enforcement. Philadelphia officials told NBC they had received nary announcement of incoming ICE forces.

President Donald Trump has many times defended sending national rule enforcement and National Guard troops into bluish strongholds by claiming they are plagued by “runaway crime,” a explanation critics telephone exaggerated and politically driven. In cities specified arsenic Chicago, Baltimore, and New Orleans, section and authorities officials person resisted nan deployments, arguing they are motivated by politics, not nationalist safety.