In wake of the months-long national protests calling for an end to police brutality and excessive force, President Obama banned the sale of some military-style equipment from federal agencies to local police departments.

On Monday, Obama announced new restrictions on the sales of some types of military-style equipment by federal agencies to police forces, in addition to new limits on the availability of others.

According to a report issued by the White House, a task force has recommended banning the sale of tracked armored vehicles, weaponized aircraft, high-caliber weapons and ammunition, and camouflage uniforms among other equipment. The Obama administration says the decision was made based on their utility to police and "the potential negative impact on the community if the equipment was used arbitrarily or inappropriately," reports NPR. Local police departments, however, are still permitted to buy this equipment from private companies, as long as they don't use federal money.

The ban comes after months of national outrage over the police killings of unarmed black men like Eric Garner, Michael Brown and Freddie Gray.

The measure is just one of several recommendations made by the White House task force in effort to build trust between law enforcement organizations and the citizens they are charged with protecting.

"We've seen how militarized gear can sometimes give people a feeling like there's an occupying force, as opposed to a force that's part of the community that's protecting them and serving them," Obama said on Monday during a visit to Camden, New Jersey, according to The New York Times. He added that such equipment can "alienate and intimidate" communities and "send the wrong message."

"So we're going to prohibit some equipment made for the battlefield that is not appropriate for local police departments," Obama said.

Law enforcement officials criticized the move, arguing that Obama is depriving officers of equipment they need to be safe in the line of duty.

"That equipment is used for a protective reason, not an offensive purpose," said Chuck Canterbury, the president of the National Fraternal Order of Police. "Putting those on restricted lists and making it so you're going to have to justify having that equipment gives the connotation that the police shouldn't have that protection, and the fact is, a riot can happen in any city in America."