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Agency Budget Summary
Department of the Treasury
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms
I. Resource Summary
II. Methodology
- The estimate of drug-related costs is based upon the time expended (FTE) on investigations that result in drug charges being filed against defendants. The Bureau takes the total of all defendants in a year and the defendants charged with U.S.C. 18 section 924 and/or narcotics to derive a ratio.
III. Program Summary
- The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) was established in 1972 with the statutory responsibility for revenue collection, regulatory and criminal enforcement of the alcohol, tobacco, firearms, and explosives commodities. ATF accomplishes its duties through 21 Criminal Enforcement district offices.
- The established link of firearms violence and drug trafficking has resulted in a significant portion of ATF's resources for counternarcotics activities.
- The drug control funding priorities identify several items that ATF has been involved with for many years. The Bureau's GREAT program is highly successful in its method of bringing an anti-violence and anti-drug message to children nationally. In addition, the Achilles Program, International Trafficking in Firearms, and Youth Crime Gun Interdiction initiative support the drug control program from an enforcement perspective.
- ATF is also a participant in federal, state, and local task forces, including the Interagency Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force.
IV. Budget Summary
1999 Program
In FY 1999, ATF received approximately $227.0 million and 1,629 FTE for drug-related program support.
Goal 1: Educate and enable America's youth to reject illegal drugs as well as the use of alcohol and tobacco.
- The GREAT (Gang Resistance Education and Training) Program is a national program of recognized success in bringing an anti-violence, anti-drug message to the nation's youth. In FY 1999, the ATF administered program will receive $7.3 million in funding support from the Violent Crime Reduction Trust Fund.
Goal 2: Increase the safety of America's citizens by substantially reducing drug-related crime and violence.
- A preponderance of ATF's responsibility within the drug control program lies in its law enforcement functions in support of Goal 2 of the Strategy. For FY 1999, $219.7 million has been identified within appropriations to support these activities.
- The Bureau's drug-related functions supporting Goal 2 of the Strategy are as follows:
- Detect and prevent distribution of firearms into illegal channels and into the possession of prohibited persons.
- Investigate arson and explosives-related incidents have a significant community-related impact.
- Assist state and local law enforcement agencies in reducing crime and violence.
- Reduce illegal trafficking, possession and use of firearms, destructive devices, and explosives.
2000 Request
- The President's budget includes a total of $248.3 million and 1,688 FTE for the ATF's drug control efforts, an increase of $21.3 million and 59 FTE over the FY 1999 level.
Goal 1: Educate and enable America's youth to reject illegal drugs as well as the use of alcohol and tobacco.
- The FY 2000 funding request for Goal 1 activities is $7.3 million for the GREAT program. This represents the same level of funding as the FY 1999 level.
Goal 2: Increase the safety of America's citizens by substantially reducing drug-related crime and violence.
- The total drug control request for Goal 2 activities for FY 2000 is approximately $241.0 million, a net increase of about $21.3 million over FY 1999.
- A total of $13.9 million of the total increase requested for Goal 2 activities will support new or expanded activities in FY 2000. The ATF's FY 2000 initiatives are:
- Youth Crime Gun Interdiction Initiative Expansion: $6.3 million and 24 FTE are requested for the expansion of its Youth Crime Drug Interdiction Initiative. This initiative is a component of the illegal firearms trafficking program intended to stem the flow of illegal firearms available to youth gangs, including drug offenders, and thereby reduce youth violence and snare felons involved in drug distribution.
- Integrated Violence Reduction Initiative: $7.1 million and 31 FTE are requested for an initiative to maintain the integrity of commerce in firearms, ensure the maximum productivity of the Brady Law, and further deter prohibited persons, especially those with criminal intent who are attempting to acquire a firearm from federal firearms licensees.
- Agent Promotion Assessment System: $500,000 in drug-related funding is requested to upgrade the ATF personnel system to assure efficient administration of law officer requirements.
V. Program Accomplishments
- In excess of 106,000 gun traces were processed connected to drug crimes or related law enforcement concerns.
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