PNN – Informed sources announced that the US Department of Justice plans to pursue the issue of merging the two agencies responsible for drug and firearm related crimes.
According to the report of Pakistan News Network, 4 informed sources told Reuters that the Ministry of Justice plans to move forward with the merger of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Administration (ATF).
Accordingly, one of these sources, who asked not to be named, admitted that these two institutions have been informed that their merger will be done by October.
In line with this plan, the White House is expected to propose strengthening the budget for these two institutions when presenting the budget for fiscal year 2026.
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Meanwhile, the proposal to merge these two institutions was first proposed in March. When Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanch floated the idea in a memo that suggested a series of sweeping structural changes at the Justice Department.
Some aspects of Blanche’s proposal, including the dissolution of the tax department and consumer protection, have been welcomed by the Ministry of Justice, and the necessary measures are being taken.
If the two agencies merge, it will be the largest structural event at the Department of Justice since September 11, 2001.
Such action requires congressional approval. Recently, no funds have been earmarked for ATF to be transferred to other agencies.
Earlier this month, the White House released a version of its fiscal year 2026 budget that included significant cuts to the FBI, ATF and DEA.
But one news source admitted that ATF and DEA officials are concerned that by merging the budgets of the two agencies, their operational costs will not be covered.