The Justice Department is considering a plan to merge the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) into a single agency as part of a restructuring effort. The goal of this proposal is to increase efficiencies in resources, case deconfliction, and regulatory efforts. President Donald Trump’s administration has been focused on shrinking and reshaping the government, leading to legal challenges and directives to eliminate employee positions and consolidate programs. The ATF investigates violent crime, gun trafficking, arson, and bombings, while the DEA enforces drug laws. Questions have been raised about the future of the ATF after FBI Director Kash Patel was tapped to serve as acting leader of the agency. The plan also includes combining policy offices in Washington and eliminating certain field offices around the country. Tax division lawyers and employees in the public corruption section would be reassigned to U.S. attorneys offices as part of the proposal. The plan is not finalized, and the heads of Justice Department agencies have until April 2 to provide feedback.
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