Politics

REPORT: Trump Admin Considers Merger Of Two Federal Law Enforcement Agencies

Published

4 days ago

March 27, 2025

The U.S. Department of Justice is reportedly weighing a proposal that would merge the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

According to a report from Reuters, the department outlined the plan in a March 25 memo. In addition to a potential merger, the administration is also reportedly considering the closure of several field offices that handle antitrust, environmental and civil cases.

The administration believes that a merger of the ATF and the DEA would “achieve efficiencies in resources, case deconfliction and regulatory efforts,” the memo outlines. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche instructed department heads and relevant officials mentioned in the memo to provide feedback about the proposed restricting by April 2.

Blanche added that proposed cuts and mergers were previously submitted to the Office of Personnel Management and the White House Office of Management and Budget.

Some of the plans and cuts outlined in the memo, including a proposed ATF-DEA merger, will likely require congressional approval. The memo also did not specify how many of the 115,000 current DOJ employees would be affected if the plan takes effect.

The proposal comes as President Trump has already taken an approach towards the ATF — a long controversial agency due to the disastrous Ruby Ridge and Waco incidents — by appointing current FBI Director Kash Patel as acting director. The move suggests that the administration is planning sizable cuts and restructuring for the agency.

Patel has long stated that he intends to reform the FBI by increasing its relationship and building trust with local law enforcement agencies. While he was going through the confirmation process, Patel received a record number of endorsements from state and local law enforcement agencies, as well as the National Police Association.

President Trump signaled his commitment to the vision by nominating Kenneth Charles “Chuck” Canterbury, currently president of the National Fraternal Order of Police, to head up the ATF back in January.