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Trump Admin Proposes Merging Two Agencies
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Trump Admin Proposes Merging Two Agencies

In a dramatic restructuring proposal aligned with President Donald Trump's directive to streamline the federal government, the Department of Justice (DOJ) is weighing a plan that would merge the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)—two of the most prominent federal law enforcement agencies. The move would mark the largest consolidation of federal crime enforcement power in decades, radically altering the way drug and gun laws are enforced in the United States.


According to a March 25 internal DOJ memo obtained by Reuters, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche instructed department officials to submit feedback on the proposed reorganization by April 2. The goal: eliminate redundancies and align DOJ operations more closely with Trump’s broader agenda of cutting bureaucratic sprawl and streamlining federal oversight.

While the DOJ has yet to formally confirm the proposals, the implications are enormous. In addition to the DEA-ATF merger, the plan reportedly includes:

  • Eliminating field offices dedicated to antitrust and environmental enforcement.
  • Scaling back the Public Integrity Section, the DOJ’s premier unit for handling high-level public corruption investigations.
  • Reassigning public corruption prosecutors to regional U.S. Attorneys' offices, with only a core team remaining in Washington.
  • Consolidating all DOJ grant programs into a single office.
  • Eliminating the Community Relations Service, an office designed to mediate tensions and de-escalate conflicts in communities facing civil unrest.

The merger of DEA and ATF could significantly reshape federal crime-fighting strategy. The DEA has traditionally focused on narcotics trafficking and cartel-related crimes, while the ATF specializes in firearms, explosives, and illegal tobacco and alcohol trade. Bringing these forces under one roof may improve communication—but it could also strain resources, redefine mission focus, and provoke turf wars within federal law enforcement ranks.

The shuttering of antitrust and environmental field offices—along with the downsizing of public corruption investigators—is likely to raise alarms among watchdogs and advocacy groups. Critics argue that these changes could weaken oversight over corporate misconduct, environmental violations, and government ethics, effectively dulling some of the DOJ’s most powerful tools for accountability.

The elimination of the Community Relations Service would also come at a time when local tensions, including protests and police-community disputes, remain high in several cities. That office has historically been a behind-the-scenes player in defusing volatile situations.


President Trump has long advocated for reducing what he views as bureaucratic bloat and deep state entrenchment within the federal government. The DOJ restructuring echoes that vision, reflecting an effort to consolidate authority, trim federal spending, and realign priorities around his law-and-order agenda.

But for legal experts and former DOJ officials, the shakeup may be a double-edged sword. While efficiencies and accountability are valid goals, gutting key enforcement capabilities may open the door to increased corruption, unchecked pollution, and lax cartel prosecution.

Written by Arthur Higgens - June 2, 2025