Justice Department Proposes DEA-ATF Merger in Restructuring Plan

The proposal, still under review, aims to streamline operations and reduce the federal government's footprint, with feedback due by April 2.

The Justice Department has proposed merging the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) into a single agency to improve efficiency and resource allocation.
The restructuring plan includes eliminating certain field offices, such as Antitrust Division offices in Chicago and San Francisco, as part of broader efforts to consolidate operations.
Lawyers from the Tax Division and public corruption units would be reassigned to U.S. attorneys' offices, except for a core supervisory team that would remain in Washington, D.C.
The proposal is part of the Trump administration's broader push to streamline federal agencies and reduce the size of government.
Agency heads have until April 2 to provide feedback on the proposal, which has not yet been finalized or publicly commented on by the Justice Department.