McCaskill’s office said the hearing will review the Defense Department’s 1033 program designed to pass on surplus military equipment to local police. It will also look at Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security grants designed to help local law enforcement beef up to fight violent drug gangs and prepare for potential terrorist attacks in the wake of Sept. 11.

A Department of Defense spokesman said last week that virtually none of the assault-type vehicles or other equipment shown on TV from Ferguson came from the Pentagon’s program.

Some police organizations have begun to push back on the issue. After President Barack Obama last weekend ordered a review of federal programs, like 1033, Yost Zakhary, the head of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), said he welcomed the scrutiny.