The U.S. Justice Department is considering a sweeping reorganization that could see the merger of two of its most high-profile law enforcement agencies, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), as part of a broader effort to streamline the federal government and slash expenditures.
A memo dated March 25 and obtained by multiple outlets outlines plans to consolidate agency functions and eliminate numerous field offices as part of President Donald Trump‘s directive to reduce the size of the federal workforce.
Newsweek reached out to the Justice Department for comment on Thursday.
Why It Matters
The reorganization is part of a wider initiative led by Trump and senior adviser Elon Musk, head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), to eliminate more than 100,000 federal jobs. The Justice Department alone employed around 115,000 staff as of January. Other cuts under consideration include the elimination of the Community Relations Service, which works to de-escalate local tensions, and the merging of the department’s various grant offices into a single entity.
What To Know
If implemented, the proposed DEA-ATF merger would represent one of the most significant structural changes within the department since the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks.Under the proposed plan, the Justice Department would consolidate its policy offices and shut down several field offices across the country, including Antitrust Division offices in Chicago and San Francisco.
Additionally, lawyers from the Tax Division and staff working on public corruption cases would be reassigned to U.S. Attorney offices nationwide, with only a core group of supervisory attorneys remaining in Washington, D.C.
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The rationale, according to the memo authored by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, is “to achieve efficiencies in resources, case deconfliction and regulatory efforts” by consolidating drug and firearms enforcement under a single agency.
Blanche has directed department leaders to submit feedback on the restructuring plan by April 2. The plan has already been shared with the White House Office of Management and Budget and the Office of Personnel Management.
The memo also outlines potential cuts to divisions responsible for antitrust, environmental, civil, counterintelligence, and foreign bribery enforcement. Resources from the Tax Division and the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch may be redistributed to U.S. Attorney offices across the country. Some cybercrime operations are also slated to be consolidated within the National Security Division.
While the proposal has not yet been finalized, the merger of the DEA and ATF is already raising questions about leadership and direction. FBI Director Kash Patel is currently serving as acting director of the ATF—a rare dual role—while Trump has nominated Terry Cole to lead the DEA.
What People Are Saying
Emma Brown, Executive Director at Giffords, a nonprofit focused on combating gun violence, said in a statement to Newsweek: “Cutting resources from the ATF would quite literally be defunding the police. The agency’s mission is to stop violent gun crime and protect public safety. Merging it with another agency would reduce staffing and resources, weakening efforts to stop gun traffickers, straw purchasers, and rogue gun dealers.”
FBI Director Kash Patel responded on X Wednesday following a report about potential ATF cuts: “Law enforcement agents don’t answer to the media, especially the fake news.”
President Donald Trump, also on X, after nominating Terry Cole to lead the DEA: “Terry is a 21-year DEA veteran with tours in Colombia, Afghanistan, and Mexico City. He currently serves as Virginia’s Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security, overseeing 11 state agencies and more than 19,000 employees.”
What Happens Next
While the proposal has not yet been finalized, the merger of the DEA and ATF is already raising questions about leadership and direction. FBI Director Kash Patel is currently serving as acting director of the ATF—a rare dual role—while Trump has nominated Terry Cole to lead the DEA.
Update 3/27/25, 3:15 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
