DOJ Plans Two-Thirds Cut of ATF Gun Dealer Inspectors

The Trump administration's Department of Justice is planning significant cuts to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), including eliminating about two-thirds of the federal inspectors who oversee licensed gun dealers, reducing the agency's regulatory capacity by approximately 40%. This plan involves cutting 541 of roughly 800 industry operations investigators responsible for scrutinizing federally licensed gun dealers, which critics warn will severely limit the government's ability to track illegal firearm sales and keep communities safe from gun violence. The DOJ also intends to merge the ATF with the Drug Enforcement Administration, aiming to reduce duplicative functions and save $468 million overall. These moves follow efforts by Republican lawmakers and the Trump administration to roll back Biden-era gun control measures, including policies on ghost guns and background checks, and to repeal the zero tolerance policy that led to automatic license revocations for clerical errors. The ATF's new approach under Trump emphasizes enforcement focused on intent and compliance history rather than automatic penalties, signaling a shift toward supporting lawful gun industry engagement. However, the deep cuts and restructuring have been described by some insiders as demoralizing and potentially harmful to the agency's effectiveness in regulating firearms.