The Trump administration has unveiled a plan to merge the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) with the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), worrying many in the gun community that it will expand the power and resources of the ATF to be weaponized against the Second Amendment community.
Gun Owners of America (GOA) uncovered the proposed merger during its review of the DEA’s 2026 budget proposal. The budget proposes merging the two agencies to help fight against narco-cartels that will be designated foreign terrorist organizations (FTOs) by the federal government. President Donald Trump has proposed going after Mexican drug cartels by using the FTO tag. The FTO designation would allow the federal government to access military powers and other resources against the narco-terrorist organizations that it is otherwise forbidden from using.
The budget reads: “To most successfully, effectively, and efficiently continue the fight to eradicate the designated cartel FTOs and seek to eliminate violent crime, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) will be incorporated into DEA, addressing both drug and gun crime. This transition will be initiated in FY 2026 and achieve efficiencies in resources and case deconfliction.”
BREAKING
The White House just officially proposed merging ATF & DEA. Just imagine:
3x ATF budget
4x ATF tactical units
+10,000 new employees
reduced oversight & accountabilityMerging is NOT abolishing, it’s a DANGEROUS Trojan Horse. pic.twitter.com/yBYr2FooA5
— Gun Owners of America (@GunOwners) May 30, 2025
The merger is concerning for some in the gun community. The ATF has a history of abusing its authority to fight a war on the constitutionally protected right to keep and bear arms. If the merger occurs, the ATF’s budget will be expanded by a massive 300%. The Bureau will have 400% more tactical units at its disposal. These units are similar to those tactical units used at the controversial sieges at Waco and Ruby Ridge. The ATF will also have access to an additional 10,000 employees.
Instead of reigning in the ATF, the merger could expand the Bureau’s power with even less oversight than before.
The intentions of the Trump administration might be to use the combined powers of both organizations to stop the flow of fentanyl into the country from Mexico, but there is no guarantee this new super agency will not be weaponized by the government against the law-abiding American gun owner when the political pendulum swings back in favor of the Democrats. Under the previous administration, the ATF was used to crack down on the right to bear arms by everyday Americans, and there is no evidence that shows that the newly merged organization will not be used in the future in a similar manner by an anti-gun presidential administration.
Many in the Second Amendment community would prefer the ATF to be dismantled entirely. If the ATF is merged with the DEA, the goal of abolishing the Bureau will almost certainly become harder, if not impossible. This new merger will put up a roadblock to a goal that the pro-gun community is closer than ever to achieving.
Earlier this year, President Trump issued an executive order to protect the Second Amendment; however, this new proposal appears to do the opposite. Some believe that President Trump has been misled about the potential adverse outcomes of a merger between the ATF and DEA. Others believe that Trump isn’t serious about protecting the Second Amendment.
About John Crump
Mr. Crump is an NRA instructor and a constitutional activist. John has written about firearms, interviewed people from all walks of life, and on the Constitution. John lives in Northern Virginia with his wife and sons, follow him on X at @crumpyss, or at www.crumpy.com.
