According to a Reuters article by Sarah N. Lynch, the White House has submitted a new fiscal 2026 budget proposal that includes sweeping cuts to several Justice Department law enforcement agencies, most notably the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). If approved by Congress, the ATF would see its funding drop from around $1.625 billion to $1.2 billion, a 28% reduction that would push the agency’s budget down to levels not seen since 2016.
DEA and FBI Also Face Reductions
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) aren’t being spared either. Reuters reported the DEA would lose $100 million, dropping to $2.5 billion, while the FBI would fall from $10.6 billion to $10.1 billion. Though these are significant, they pale in comparison to the cut facing the ATF, which could be forced to slash hundreds of jobs and cancel future agent classes, according to Lynch’s sources. Already, about 600 ATF employees have taken deferred resignations.
A 28% Cut – And What It Really Means
Curtis Hallstrom, host of The VSO Gun Channel, emphasized in his breakdown that this is no small trim. “The proposed reduction is a full 28%,” Hallstrom said, pointing out that this essentially rolls the ATF budget back to the level it was during the Obama administration, before Trump initially boosted it. While some see this as a rollback, Hallstrom framed it as a modest correction. “Honestly, I don’t think 28% is enough,” he added. “If we’re being realistic, they only need about 200 employees.”
A Sharp Turn from Past Spending
Hallstrom didn’t shy away from criticizing Trump’s earlier record either. He highlighted that during Trump’s first term, the ATF budget rose significantly, sometimes well over the standard 2% inflation-adjusted increase. For instance, in fiscal year 2020, the budget jumped by over 6%. That growth gave the Biden administration a larger starting point when they later continued increasing the ATF’s resources. So while Hallstrom supports the current reduction, he acknowledged the budget wouldn’t be this high if Trump hadn’t raised it last time.
A Political “Nuke” Aimed at Gun Control
Jared Yanis, host of Guns & Gadgets, called the budget cut a “political nuke” dropped on the Biden-era gun control machine. According to Yanis, the Trump administration’s proposal specifically targets “ATF offices that have criminalized law-abiding gun ownership through regulatory fiat.” In his video, Yanis described this move as a strategic defunding of unconstitutional enforcement actions, including regulations on pistol braces, ghost guns, and the notorious zero-tolerance policy on Federal Firearms License (FFL) holders.
Targeting Regulatory Overreach
Yanis didn’t mince words when discussing the ATF’s recent behavior. He accused the agency of enforcing rules “not passed by elected officials,” but rather created through executive interpretation and bureaucratic overreach. He argued the cuts are meant to stop the ATF from acting as a legislative body, a concern echoed by many in the gun rights community. “This is not just symbolic – it’s strategic,” Yanis said. “Trump is drawing a line in the sand.”
Is It About Cutting Crime – or Cutting Power?
Interestingly, these cuts come just weeks after Trump signed an executive order to support law enforcement and help local police forces become more effective. As Sarah Lynch of Reuters noted, the timing seems contradictory. Some critics question how slashing resources for the ATF, DEA, and FBI helps fight violent crime. But Trump’s plan appears more focused on returning control to state and local law enforcement rather than expanding federal reach.
The Super-Agency Nobody Asked For
Another key concern raised in Lynch’s report and echoed by Hallstrom is a Justice Department plan to potentially merge the ATF and DEA. Hallstrom slammed the idea as a dangerous power move, calling it “a toy that a future anti-freedom administration will use against the American people.” This so-called “Super ATF” worries both pro-gun and gun-control groups, and even internal agency agents are reportedly against it. Combining two massive enforcement arms under one roof could create a regulatory monster, regardless of who’s in office.
Layoffs, Canceled Training, and Shrinking Capacity
According to Reuters, the ATF has already canceled incoming agent classes due to earlier 2024 budget cuts. If the new proposal passes, that problem will only worsen. The agency’s ability to analyze ballistic evidence, assist local bomb squads, or process DNA from shell casings would all be crippled. Critics argue this could slow down homicide investigations, especially in cities that rely on ATF lab services. It raises a fair question – how do we balance reducing federal overreach without weakening legitimate forensic support?
Body Cameras Scrapped, Oversight Fading
Lynch’s reporting also revealed that the DEA quietly ended its body-worn camera program in March 2025, reversing a key transparency measure introduced under Attorney General Merrick Garland. That move, combined with the cuts, paints a picture of shrinking oversight at a time when many Americans are demanding more accountability, not less. Between agency mergers and budget reductions, it’s unclear what kind of federal law enforcement presence we’ll have in the coming years – and whether it will still be visible to the public.
Budget Cut With Two Faces
Here’s the strange part. On one hand, I get why so many Second Amendment supporters are cheering. Cutting back the ATF’s ability to write its own rules and crack down on law-abiding gun owners sounds like a win. But we also can’t ignore the ripple effects. There are real crimes to stop – bombings, gun trafficking, arson – and the ATF plays a role in that. Stripping them down too much might feel good politically, but it could open gaps in our national crime-fighting tools. It’s a thin line between shrinking bureaucratic overreach and weakening our ability to investigate dangerous people.
The Fight Now Moves to Congress
As both Curtis Hallstrom and Jared Yanis reminded viewers, this budget isn’t law yet. It has to go through the House, likely get packed with amendments, then survive the Senate. That means gun rights supporters have a window to call their representatives and push for the cuts, or argue for balance. Yanis urged viewers to be “loud, informed, and engaged.” Whether this move turns into law or becomes another political talking point will depend on how Congress responds in the months ahead.
A former park ranger and wildlife conservationist, Lisa’s passion for survival started with her deep connection to nature. Raised on a small farm in northern Wisconsin, she learned how to grow her own food, raise livestock, and live off the land. Lisa is our dedicated Second Amendment news writer and also focuses on homesteading, natural remedies, and survival strategies. Lisa aims to help others live more sustainably and prepare for the unexpected.