President Trump’s proposed budget for the 2026 fiscal year includes a significant reduction for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), potentially cutting its personnel from 5,136 to 3,671 employees, which represents a 29 percent workforce decrease. A report from the Center for American Progress highlights that such cuts are alarming given the increase in firearms; the number of guns in circulation has surged from 240 million in 2010 to an estimated 414 million by the end of 2025.
Experts warn that these budget constraints will severely limit the ATF’s ability to assist state and local law enforcement in preventing violent crime. According to Nick Wilson, senior director for Gun Violence Prevention at the CAP, without adequate funding, the ATF will struggle to provide essential crime gun intelligence, further endangering communities. The report underscores that inflation-adjusted funding per gun will dip by 54 percent, highlighting a stark disparity as violence prevention needs grow.
Read full story at www.americanprogress.org
