Latest news with #DerekMaltz
NDTV
02-05-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
White House Seeks Budget Cuts For US Law Enforcement Offices: Report
Washington: The White House is poised to ask Congress to cut funding for several of the Justice Department's law enforcement offices under a budget proposal that would likely hamper its ability to carry out the Trump administration's pledge to crack down on violent crime, three sources familiar with the matter said. The fiscal-year 2026 budget proposal calls for cutting the budgets for the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the FBI, said the sources, who spoke anonymously because the budget had not been made public. The White House proposal calls for a roughly $1.2 billion budget for ATF in fiscal 2026, which would be down from its current funding level of about $1.625 billion, two of the sources said. If enacted, that would be the agency's lowest budget since at least 2016, one added. The DEA, meanwhile, would see its current budget of $2.6 billion cut to $2.5 billion, while the FBI would have its $10.6 billion budget cut to $10.1 billion if the White House proposal is enacted by Congress, the two sources added. The Justice Department has been mulling whether to merge the ATF with the DEA, a proposal opposed by many gun-rights and gun-control groups as well as by agents at both agencies. Derek Maltz - who has been overseeing the DEA until the Senate can confirm Terry Cole, Trump's pick for its administrator - is stepping down on Friday, two other people familiar with his plans said. The proposed cuts to the DEA, ATF and FBI follow an executive order late last month that President Donald Trump said was designed to support law enforcement. It directs Attorney General Pam Bondi to take steps that would allow states, counties and cities to "unleash high-impact local police forces." A Justice Department spokesman said the DOJ would "ensure our resources are effectively allocated to make America safe again." Representatives of the White House, DEA, ATF and FBI did not respond to requests for comment. A spokeswoman for the White House Office of Management and Budget said in a statement that the proposed budget numbers being reported by Reuters are "false," without elaborating. The FBI, DEA and ATF all frequently work with local law enforcement to investigate crimes and analyze complex evidence. The ATF, most notably, played a crucial role in quickly helping to trace the gun used by the suspect who tried to assassinate Trump - who was then the Republican presidential candidate - in Butler, Pennsylvania, last year. The Justice Department, in coordination with Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency, moved in April to terminate more than 300 criminal justice grants valued at $811 million. Many of them provided funding for police, local prosecutors, court-appointed child advocates and victims services. The White House's proposed cuts to the ATF - which frequently finds itself under fire by pro-gun rights groups because of its role in regulating the firearms industry - would be particularly damaging, the sources said. If enacted, the cuts would force the agency to slash hundreds or more jobs, two of the sources said, in addition to the nearly 600 people who have already accepted the government's deferred resignation option. The agency employs about 5,300, about half of whom are special agents, according to public records. It has been unable to fill about 150 slots for special agents due to budget cuts in 2024, forcing it to cancel its incoming agent classes, two of the sources said. Such a decrease would limit the ATF's ability to assist federal, state and local law enforcement from analyzing key ballistic evidence that is often vital to solving homicides and other gun-related crimes. It would also hamper its ability to help investigate cases involving bombs and arson, a niche area of expertise that many local law enforcement agencies lack, and it would impede it from conducting DNA analysis on shell casings to help solve crimes. The DEA's budget proposal will not support funding for body-worn cameras, the sources said. The DEA quietly ended its body-worn camera program in late March, according to a previously unreported memo seen by Reuters. That memo reversed a policy under former Attorney General Merrick Garland that required all federal agents to wear them. The DEA also just recently lost about 200 employees who took the second wave of deferred resignation offers, another source told Reuters.
Reuters
02-05-2025
- Business
- Reuters
White House seeks budget cuts for Justice Department law enforcement offices, sources say
Summary White House to ask Congress for budget cuts for ATF, DEA and FBI, sources say Proposal comes with acting DEA administrator Derek Maltz departing, sources say White House proposal would hit ATF hardest if enacted by Congress WASHINGTON, May 1 (Reuters) - The White House is poised to ask Congress to cut funding for several of the Justice Department's law enforcement offices under a budget proposal that would likely hamper its ability to carry out the Trump administration's pledge to crack down on violent crime, three sources familiar with the matter said. The fiscal-year 2026 budget proposal calls for cutting the budgets for the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the FBI, said the sources, who spoke anonymously because the budget had not been made public. The White House proposal calls for a roughly $1.2 billion budget for ATF in fiscal 2026, which would be down from its current funding level of about $1.625 billion, two of the sources said. If enacted, that would be the agency's lowest budget since at least 2016, one added. The DEA, meanwhile, would see its current budget of $2.6 billion cut to $2.5 billion, while the FBI would have its $10.6 billion budget cut to $10.1 billion if the White House proposal is enacted by Congress, the two sources added. The Justice Department has been mulling whether to merge the ATF with the DEA, a proposal opposed by many gun-rights and gun-control groups as well as by agents at both agencies. Derek Maltz - who has been overseeing the DEA until the Senate can confirm Terry Cole, Trump's pick for its administrator - is stepping down on Friday, two other people familiar with his plans said. The proposed cuts to the DEA, ATF and FBI follow an executive order late last month that President Donald Trump said was designed to support law enforcement. It directs Attorney General Pam Bondi to take steps that would allow states, counties and cities to "unleash high-impact local police forces." A Justice Department spokesman said the DOJ would "ensure our resources are effectively allocated to make America safe again." Representatives of the White House, DEA, ATF and FBI did not respond to requests for comment. A spokeswoman for the White House Office of Management and Budget said in a statement that the proposed budget numbers being reported by Reuters are "false," without elaborating. The FBI, DEA and ATF all frequently work with local law enforcement to investigate crimes and analyze complex evidence. The ATF, most notably, played a crucial role in quickly helping to trace the gun used by the suspect who tried to assassinate Trump - who was then the Republican presidential candidate - in Butler, Pennsylvania, last year. The Justice Department, in coordination with Elon Musk 's Department of Government Efficiency, moved in April to terminate more than 300 criminal justice grants valued at $811 million. Many of them provided funding for police, local prosecutors, court-appointed child advocates and victims services. The White House's proposed cuts to the ATF - which frequently finds itself under fire by pro-gun rights groups because of its role in regulating the firearms industry - would be particularly damaging, the sources said. If enacted, the cuts would force the agency to slash hundreds or more jobs, two of the sources said, in addition to the nearly 600 people who have already accepted the government's deferred resignation option. The agency employs about 5,300, about half of whom are special agents, according to public records. It has been unable to fill about 150 slots for special agents due to budget cuts in 2024, forcing it to cancel its incoming agent classes, two of the sources said. Such a decrease would limit the ATF's ability to assist federal, state and local law enforcement from analyzing key ballistic evidence that is often vital to solving homicides and other gun-related crimes. It would also hamper its ability to help investigate cases involving bombs and arson, a niche area of expertise that many local law enforcement agencies lack, and it would impede it from conducting DNA analysis on shell casings to help solve crimes. The DEA's budget proposal will not support funding for body-worn cameras, the sources said. The DEA quietly ended its body-worn camera program in late March, according to a previously unreported memo seen by Reuters. That memo reversed a policy under former Attorney General Merrick Garland that required all federal agents to wear them. The DEA also just recently lost about 200 employees who took the second wave of deferred resignation offers, another source told Reuters.
The Onion
02-04-2025
- The Onion
DEA Classifies Red Wine As Schedule I Drug To Spite Ex-Wife
SPRINGFIELD, VA—In a decision meant to crack down on the allegedly dangerous substance and the 'total fucking bitch' who uses it, the acting head of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Derek Maltz, classified red wine as a Schedule I drug Wednesday in order to spite his ex-wife. 'We have been far too lenient to the cold, vicious harpies who use this substance—if you run to the liquor store down the street for a bottle of Yellow Tail malbec, bring it home, and pour yourself a glass, that will now be classified as drug-trafficking,' said Maltz, explaining that substances newly classified as Schedule I include pinot noir, merlot, shiraz, and any beverage enjoyed during a tasting tour of the Loudoun County wineries outside of D.C. 'This drug has caused irreparable damage to society and needs to be taken off the street. Otherwise, the country will continue to be overrun by passive-aggressive scolds who don't even need all that goddamn child support.' At press time, Maltz added that mixing up a pitcher of margaritas for the girls should be made a Class B felony punishable by up to 25 years in a federal penitentiary.
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Blue sanctuary state operating as ‘control' center for vicious migrant gang: acting DEA chief
Lax immigration policies in deep blue Colorado are helping Tren de Aragua, one of the most vicious migrant gangs in America, to use the state as a "command and control" center, according to the acting head of the DEA. A representative for the DEA Rocky Mountain Division confirmed with Fox News statements by DEA Acting Administrator Derek Maltz on local outlet Denver 7, in which Maltz said Colorado is "ground zero for some of the most violent criminals in America," including Tren de Aragua's leadership. Tren de Aragua – also known by its acronym "TdA" – is a violent Venezuelan criminal group that has been linked to some of the most egregious crimes in America in recent years, including the murder of nursing student Laken Riley and the capturing of an apartment building in Aurora, Colorado. On his first day in office, President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing the State Department to designate TdA a "foreign terrorist organization." 'On Notice': Ex-venezuelan Military Official Applauds Trump's 'First Good Step' Targeting Bloodthirsty Gang "Now, we are learning that the command and control for TdA in the entire United States of America is right here in Colorado," Maltz told the outlet. Read On The Fox News App He said this information was based on new intelligence from the "men and women on the front lines and what we're seeing." Maltz said the laws of Democratic-run Colorado have allowed TdA and other criminals to "take advantage of vulnerabilities and weaknesses" to perpetuate their crimes. "Anybody that thinks it's a good idea to open up the border to adversaries around the world and then not even know who they are coming into our communities, it makes no sense," he said, adding, "People in this state have allowed illegal violent criminals in here at record levels." 'Bring It On': Sheriff Pushes Back After Blue State Leaders Sue To Stop Immigration Enforcement Maltz called on state leaders to stop playing politics and instead help take violent criminal immigrants off the streets. "The politics have to stop. This is not a red or blue issue, this is a red, white and blue issue," he said. "We have to start thinking about our citizens first." Maltz also had some very pointed words for those criticizing or attempting to stand in the way of the federal government's immigration crackdown. "Why don't you thank law enforcement instead of being 'Monday morning quarterbacks' sitting at home and being critics?" he asked. "Why don't you ask the politicians in the state of Colorado why they are not uniting, why they are fighting the force of good that's going after evil?" 'Closing Time': White House, Border Patrol Troll With Deportation Meme Video "Wake up, pay attention," he went on. "Talk to the citizens that can't go out of their house at night when gunshots are going off, talk to people that are being extorted, talk to people that are being kidnapped and raped, talk to people that are being impacted every day." Despite the criticism, Maltz said the federal government is "connecting the dots" and taking a "whole of government" approach to finally crack down on TdA and other migrant criminals, regardless of Colorado's laws. Click Here For More Immigration Coverage "I'm proud to report that right now, the cartels, the MS-13, the violent gangs like Tren de Aragua, they're going to be held accountable, and they're already being held accountable," he said. 'Safer Without Him': Columbia Student Claims Classmate Arrested By Ice 'Hates America' "I've got a warning for the TdA members," he added, "start running now." "The team of the DEA, working with their partners from FBI, ATF, HSI, ICE ERO and our state and local counterparts, it's a team that takes public safety and national security serious and they've already proven what they can do," he said. "So they better go and find another state because they are not welcome here in Colorado." Click Here For More Immigration Coverage Colorado's two Democratic senators, Michael Bennett and John Hickenlooper, did not respond to Fox News Digital's requests for comment by the time of publication. Mexican Immigration Activist Who Hid In Colorado Church For Years To Avoid Deportation Arrested By Ice Eric Maruyama, a representative for Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, responded to Maltz's statements by telling Fox News Digital that the state "works with the DEA all the time on criminal investigations and to apprehend violent offenders and fugitives whether they are here legally or illegally." Maruyama instead placed the blame for the crisis on the federal government, saying, "The reality is that Congress and the federal government for years have failed to fix our broken immigration system, secure our border, and create pathways to citizenship for people." "Gov. Polis is focused on improving public safety and has signed comprehensive laws to crack down on illegal gun crimes, get fentanyl off the streets, and recruit and retain more law enforcement," he claimed. "When it comes to criminal investigations or prosecutions, Colorado works closely with all federal partners, in accordance with state and federal law, to fight crime and enhance public safety."Original article source: Blue sanctuary state operating as 'control' center for vicious migrant gang: acting DEA chief
Fox News
19-03-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Blue sanctuary state operating as ‘control' center for vicious migrant gang: acting DEA chief
Lax immigration policies in deep blue Colorado are helping Tren de Aragua, one of the most vicious migrant gangs in America, to use the state as a "command and control" center, according to the acting head of the DEA. A representative for the DEA Rocky Mountain Division confirmed with Fox News statements by DEA Acting Administrator Derek Maltz on local outlet Denver 7, in which Maltz said Colorado is "ground zero for some of the most violent criminals in America," including Tren de Aragua's leadership. Tren de Aragua – also known by its acronym "TdA" – is a violent Venezuelan criminal group that has been linked to some of the most egregious crimes in America in recent years, including the murder of nursing student Laken Riley and the capturing of an apartment building in Aurora, Colorado. On his first day in office, President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing the State Department to designate TdA a "foreign terrorist organization." "Now, we are learning that the command and control for TdA in the entire United States of America is right here in Colorado," Maltz told the outlet. He said this information was based on new intelligence from the "men and women on the front lines and what we're seeing." Maltz said the laws of Democratic-run Colorado have allowed TdA and other criminals to "take advantage of vulnerabilities and weaknesses" to perpetuate their crimes. "Anybody that thinks it's a good idea to open up the border to adversaries around the world and then not even know who they are coming into our communities, it makes no sense," he said, adding, "People in this state have allowed illegal violent criminals in here at record levels." Maltz called on state leaders to stop playing politics and instead help take violent criminal immigrants off the streets. "The politics have to stop. This is not a red or blue issue, this is a red, white and blue issue," he said. "We have to start thinking about our citizens first." Maltz also had some very pointed words for those criticizing or attempting to stand in the way of the federal government's immigration crackdown. "Why don't you thank law enforcement instead of being 'Monday morning quarterbacks' sitting at home and being critics?" he asked. "Why don't you ask the politicians in the state of Colorado why they are not uniting, why they are fighting the force of good that's going after evil?" "Wake up, pay attention," he went on. "Talk to the citizens that can't go out of their house at night when gunshots are going off, talk to people that are being extorted, talk to people that are being kidnapped and raped, talk to people that are being impacted every day." Despite the criticism, Maltz said the federal government is "connecting the dots" and taking a "whole of government" approach to finally crack down on TdA and other migrant criminals, regardless of Colorado's laws. "I'm proud to report that right now, the cartels, the MS-13, the violent gangs like Tren de Aragua, they're going to be held accountable, and they're already being held accountable," he said. "I've got a warning for the TdA members," he added, "start running now." "The team of the DEA, working with their partners from FBI, ATF, HSI, ICE ERO and our state and local counterparts, it's a team that takes public safety and national security serious and they've already proven what they can do," he said. "So they better go and find another state because they are not welcome here in Colorado." Colorado's two Democratic senators, Michael Bennett and John Hickenlooper, did not respond to Fox News Digital's requests for comment by the time of publication. Eric Maruyama, a representative for Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, responded to Maltz's statements by telling Fox News Digital that the state "works with the DEA all the time on criminal investigations and to apprehend violent offenders and fugitives whether they are here legally or illegally." Maruyama instead placed the blame for the crisis on the federal government, saying, "The reality is that Congress and the federal government for years have failed to fix our broken immigration system, secure our border, and create pathways to citizenship for people." "Gov. Polis is focused on improving public safety and has signed comprehensive laws to crack down on illegal gun crimes, get fentanyl off the streets, and recruit and retain more law enforcement," he claimed. "When it comes to criminal investigations or prosecutions, Colorado works closely with all federal partners, in accordance with state and federal law, to fight crime and enhance public safety."
