Jefferson Reporter

U.S. Senators Katie Britt (R-Ala.), the Ranking Member of the Homeland Security Subcommittee of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, and Senator Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, have introduced bipartisan legislation aimed at equipping female law enforcement personnel at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) with next-generation body armor.

Recent ballistic testing by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) revealed that standard body armor used by DHS officers can cause bullets to deflect off the chest and strike the throat area, leaving female officers, and some male officers, vulnerable. The proposed bill mandates all agencies under DHS to provide law enforcement personnel with improved ballistic body armor that fits appropriately.

“I am proud to support the courageous women of the Department of Homeland Security who selflessly protect and serve our nation with distinction,” said Senator Britt. “Just as they safeguard our homeland, they deserve equipment that will keep them safe in the line of duty. This is a commonsense piece of legislation that will help our DHS law enforcement officers return home to their family at the end of every day.”

Senator Peters echoed these sentiments, stating: “Our brave Department of Homeland Security law enforcement officers put their lives on the line every day to keep us safe. They deserve the best possible equipment to protect themselves when on the job. This commonsense bill will ensure all officers, regardless of gender or body type, have access to the most advanced and effective body armor available and are protected when in harm’s way.”

In 2022, FBI conducted ballistic testing using updated procedures and improved body molds accounting for different body types. The tests found that commonly used body armor was vulnerable when tested on female and certain male molds. A bullet or other projectile could ricochet off the top center of the front armor panel into an officer's throat area—potentially fatal. Since then, improved ballistic body armor has been developed and is available, but DHS does not currently provide this potentially life-saving body armor to their officers.

The bipartisan DHS Better Ballistic Body Armor Act would require all agencies under DHS to provide their female law enforcement officers, and any law enforcement personnel, with improved ballistic body armor to better protect them in the line of duty. The full text of the bill can be found here.