Guide
Which U.S. departments besides State and War have a role in arms transfers?
Five more departments touch . Treasury holds the account the sits in. Justice controls permanent imports of defense articles through the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and prosecutes violations of the . Homeland Security's Customs and Border Protection checks exports at the port, and its Coast Guard is a partner. Commerce licenses dual-use exports and leads the government's advocacy for U.S. defense industry abroad, and Transportation's Maritime Administration checks that U.S.-flag shipping rules are followed.
Which U.S. departments besides State and War have a role in arms transfers?
Department of the Treasury
The Department of Treasury is involved in / through its role as a financial agent for the and as a member of the . The account is a U.S. Treasury account; therefore, the Treasury is most interested in the overall cash flow of this account. If a country’s account goes into a deficit or delinquent cash position, this is of special interest to the Treasury. The Treasury has a fiduciary interest in the appropriated or credit programs of / as well.
Department of Justice
Beyond the export of defense articles and services, the also confers upon the President the function of controlling the import of arms, ammunition, and implements of war, including , into the U.S. This function has been delegated by the President to the Attorney General and the Department of Justice (DOJ). The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) is the law enforcement agency controlling the import of defense articles. Designation by the attorney general of items as defense articles or services subject to import control must have the concurrence of the Secretaries of and War [ 13637]. The DOJ is the executive agency that prosecutes personnel that violates the and import or export defense articles or services without the proper authorization.
Department of Homeland Security
Duties of the former U.S. Customs Service within the Department of Treasury were transferred to the Department of Homeland Security () by the Homeland Security Act of 2002. customs enforcement is divided between two agencies:
1. U.S. Customs and Border Protection ()
2. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement ()
is responsible for reviewing DOS-issued munitions control export licenses at the U.S. port of departure and reporting any irregularities. This agency also collects and compiles international trade statistics, some of which are /-related, and forwards them to the Bureau of the Census for compilation.
The Homeland Security Act of 2002 also transferred the U.S. Coast Guard () from the Department of Transportation (DOT) to the . The is a significant / partner, especially in the areas of maritime security, law enforcement, navigation, and safety. In keeping with its long tradition with the U.S. Navy, the works closely with the Navy International Programs Office () in providing / overseas.
Department of Commerce
The Department of Commerce () is involved with the U.S. / program in several ways. One way is through its interface with the DOS and DoW concerning civil items with the potential for military application (i.e., dual-use items). Dual-use items on the Department’s Commerce Control List () require an export license issued by the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS). In other instances, technology transfer implications are an issue. Commerce also manages export administration and related activities, including advice and assistance on regulating exports through the licensing of U.S. goods and technology for purposes of national security and foreign policy.
Department of Transportation
The U.S. Maritime Administration (), which is part of the Department of Transportation (DOT), is also involved in /. It has a responsibility to determine if foreign countries, through their agents, are properly using U.S. flag shipping for U.S.-funded / programs.
References
SAMM
- SAMM C3.3.4.6 — Permanent Imports.
- SAMM C8.7.5 — Department of Justice.
- SAMM C3.3.3.4.1 — Export License Requirements for Purchaser-Sponsored Shipments.
- SAMM C1.3.3 — Department of Commerce (DoC).
- SAMM C1.3 — Authorities, Roles, Responsibilities, and Relationships - General
Related
Arms Transfers
The sale, lease, loan, or other transfer of defense articles and defense services such as arms, ammunition, and implements of war, including components thereof, and the training, manufacturing licenses, technical assistance, and technical data related thereto, provided by the USG under the authority of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended, or the Arms Export Control Act, as amended, or other statutory authority, or directly by commercial firms to foreign countries, foreign private firms, or to international organizations. See also conventional arms transfers.
SAMM Glossary, as of 12 September 2026
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Foreign Military Sales (FMS)
A process, authorized by the Arms Export Control Act, through which eligible foreign governments and international organizations may purchase defense articles, services, and training from the United States Government.
SAMM Glossary, as of 12 September 2026
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Trust Fund
A type of account, designated by law as a “trust fund,” regardless of any other meaning of the term “trust fund.” A trust fund account is usually either a receipt, an expenditure, or a revolving fund account (trust revolving fund account).
SAMM Glossary, as of 12 September 2026
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Arms Export Control Act (AECA)
The basic U.S. law providing the authority and general rules for the conduct of Foreign Military Sales and commercial sales of defense articles, defense services, and training. The Arms Export Control Act (AECA) came into existence with the passage of the Foreign Military Sales Act (FMSA) of 1968. An amendment in the International Security Assistance and AECA of 1976 changed the name of FMSA to the AECA.
SAMM Glossary, as of 12 September 2026
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Security Cooperation
Activities undertaken by the DoD to encourage and enable international partners to work with the United States to achieve strategic objectives. It includes all DoD interactions with foreign defense and security establishments, including all DoD-administered security assistance programs, that: build defense and security relationships that promote specific U.S. security interests, including all international armaments cooperation activities and security assistance activities; develop allied and friendly military capabilities for self-defense and multinational operations; and provide U.S. forces with peacetime and contingency access to host nations.
SAMM Glossary, as of 12 September 2026
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Security Assistance (SA)
A group of programs authorized by federal statutes by which the United States provides defense articles, military training, and other defense-related services by grant, lease, loan, credit, or cash sales in furtherance of national policies and objectives, and those that are funded and authorized through the Department of State to be administered by Department of Defense/Defense Security Cooperation Agency, which are considered part of security cooperation.
SAMM Glossary, as of 12 September 2026
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FMS — Foreign Military Sale
SAMM Acronyms, as of 12 September 2026
AECA — Arms Export Control Act
SAMM Acronyms, as of 12 September 2026
Technical Data
Recorded information of a scientific or technical nature, regardless of form or characteristic. Examples of technical data packages include research and engineering drawings and associated lists, specifications, standards, process sheets, manuals, technical reports, catalog item identifications, and related information and computer software documentation.
SAMM Glossary, as of 12 September 2026
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Executive Order (EO)
Official documents, numbered consecutively, through which the President of the United States manages the operations of the Federal Government.
SAMM Glossary, as of 12 September 2026
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BATFE — Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives
SAMM Acronyms, as of 12 September 2026
LOA — Letter of Offer and Acceptance
SAMM Acronyms, as of 12 September 2026
DSCA — Defense Security Cooperation Agency
SAMM Acronyms, as of 12 September 2026
Glossary entry →Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) →
Security Cooperation Information Portal (SCIP)
A DSCA-managed web-based tool for international purchasers, purchaser agents (e.g., freight forwarders), and USG personnel with appropriate permissions that provides information on U.S. Foreign Military Sales Letters of Offer and Acceptance and other key Security Cooperation programs and processes. The data is sourced from Defense Security Assistance Management System and the Military Department's case execution systems.
SAMM Glossary, as of 12 September 2026
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Freight Forwarder
A commercial import/export company registered with the Department of State, Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, Directorate of Defense Trade Controls and under contract to the Foreign Military Sales customer which arranges transportation of materiel from a point specified in the Letter of Offer and Acceptance to the final destination.
SAMM Glossary, as of 12 September 2026
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Transportation Plan
A document that details the transportation and security arrangements for moving classified or sensitive material, and identifies individuals responsible for providing security at various points during transportation.
SAMM Glossary, as of 12 September 2026
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EDA — Excess Defense Articles
SAMM Acronyms, as of 12 September 2026