US Department Department of Homeland Security (DHS) This month, a $30,000 sniper and combat training contract was quietly awarded and a Virginia company run by Dan Lalota, the brother of Nick Lalota, a second Republican from New York.
The award was completed on September 2, and the award was awarded to the Target Down group in Mechanicsville, Virginia, which will provide a five-day precision fire and observation course for the Special Response Team (SRT) sniper program for the Homeland Security Investigation. The course aims to aid the new DHS program, “to provide them with the skills and knowledge necessary to effectively perform law enforcement sniper operations in high-risk environments,” according to records reviewed by Wired.
The SRT is the agency’s version of the SWAT team, composed of special agents, and provides advanced tactical training for situations that are too dangerous for standard personnel. SRT members wear military camouflage and helmets, carry a range of weapons, and engage in violations, sniper tactics and close combat.
According to federal procurement records, the SRT contract is issued on the unique basis, and officials cite Target Group’s previous work with Homeland Security investigations and its pre-liquidation of field shooting exercises at law enforcement agencies in Arizona.
Congressman Lalota, who served on the House Homeland Security Committee at the previous session, could not comment. Called his New York and Washington, D.C., and the office did not respond Thursday.
The Department of Homeland Security did not respond to a request for comment.
When arriving by phone, Dan Lalota said his company’s deal with ICE had nothing to do with his brother’s position in Congress. “I’m not a newbie,” he told Wired, adding that only a few people are eligible for the training required by DHS. “Saying my company will be the only qualified company will not be unsound.”
Larota added that he could not speak on behalf of ICE, refusing to discuss details of his company’s work, saying the issues were a privacy violation while directing journalists to his company’s website for information about his employees and expertise.
The Target Down Group’s website lists retired ocean sniper Dan Lalota as the company’s president. According to his brother’s Biography of CongressDan Lalota served in the Marine Corps for twenty years, including travel with the Reconnaissance and Marine Special Operations Command, won a bronze star in Fallujah, Iraq. Lalota told Wired that he also had a Scout sniper coach for seven years.
Federal procurement records list the target group as a Virginia company; however, state records show that the company currently does not have legal authorization to operate as a Virginia company, which was automatically terminated in November 2024 after failing to meet its annual application and fee requirements with the state company registry. Nevertheless, the company was registered separately in Florida as of July. (When asked about the differences, Target Down Group CEO Christopher Allison acknowledged the investigation but did not comment.)
Federal acquisition rules allow for unique source contracts under certain conditions, effectively bypassing the competitive bidding process often required by federal awards. exist Memorandum of RulingDHS said the Target Down Group was the only provider able to conduct training, citing the company’s work schedule and previous work with the company’s sniper program and has established contacts with Arizona police, some of whom are participating in the sport.
Dan Lalota refused to discuss any previous work of the government. “I’m not free to discuss what business with strangers like you. I hope you understand that,” he said.
June, NBC News Report The SRT troops are preparing to deploy to several cities led by Democrats, including Philadelphia, Chicago, Seattle, Northern Virginia and New York. The plan was deployed several days after the immigration raid in Los Angeles protest and Conflict with law enforcement officers. Philadelphia officials told NBC they had not received any notice about the Ice Army.
President Donald Trump has repeatedly defended sending federal law enforcement and National Guard forces to Democratic-led cities, claiming they are plagued by “out of control crimes,” a portrayal of critics’ calls for exaggerated and politically driven. In cities like Chicago, Baltimore, and New Orleans, local and state officials resisted deployments, believing they were motivated by politics rather than public safety.
