ATF Mission

Located in the Department of Justice (DOJ), the ATF is the lead federal law enforcement agency charged with administering and enforcing federal laws related to the manufacture, importation, and distribution of firearms and explosives. As part of the Homeland Security Act, Congress transferred ATF's enforcement and regulatory functions for firearms and explosives to the DOJ from the Department of the Treasury, adding "explosives" to ATF's title. ATF is also responsible for investigating arson cases with a federal nexus, as well as criminal violations of federal laws governing the manufacture, importation, and distribution of alcohol and tobacco. For example, for the past two fiscal years, FY2009 and FY2010, Congress has provided ATF with program increases to address illegal gun trafficking from the United States to Mexico under an initiative known as "Project Gunrunner." For FY2008, Congress also provided ATF with a program increase for domestic gun trafficking, and the focus of this program increase was also largely on the Southwest border. As a result, for those three fiscal years, Congress has provided over $49 million in program increases to address gun trafficking, which is the diversion of firearms from legal to illegal markets. Congress has also provided nearly $30 million for the construction of a National Center for Explosives Training and Research (NCETR). 3288 ), Congress matched the Administration's request and appropriated $1.121 billion for ATF, or $24.0 million (3.9%) more than the agency's total FY2009 appropriations ($1.078 billion). Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2010

In P.L. 111-117 , Congress appropriated $1.121 billion for ATF for FY2010. 111-366 ) indicated that the act included the following increases:
$18 million for Project Gunrunner, the same amount requested by the Administration and included in the Senate-reported and Housed-passed bills (described below); $10 million to increase for ATF-led inter-agency task forces known as Violent Crime Impact Teams, which are dedicated to reducing violent crime and illegal gang activity, as originally included in the House-passed bill; $6 million for construction (phase two) of the NCETR, instead of the $25 million requested by the Administration, an amount included in the Senate bill, or the $10 million under the House bill; and $1.5 million to complete ATF headquarters construction projects. FY2009 Appropriations

Congress appropriated $1.054 billion for ATF in the Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009 ( H.R. 111-8 ). Congress also provided ATF with $10 million in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA; P.L. 111-5 ). In addition, Congress provided ATF with $14 million in the Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2009 ( P.L. As a result, for FY2009, Congress appropriated a sum total of $1.078 billion for ATF, or $66.6 million (6.6%) more than the FY2008-enacted amount ($1.012 billion). 111-32 ). Conference report language indicated that the ATF supplemental appropriation included 
$4 million to support ATF's role in the global war on terror in Iraq and Afghanistan, $4 million to upgrade and share ballistic imaging technology with the government of Mexico, and $6 million for other ongoing efforts focused on stemming illegal gun trafficking to Mexico under Project Gunrunner. 110-161 ). In sum total, Congress appropriated $1.012 billion for ATF for FY2008, or $23.5 million (2.4%) more than the FY2007 appropriations ($988.1 million). Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008

In P.L. Program increases included $23.5 million for the construction of NCETR and $6.3 million for gun trafficking investigations. FY2008 Iraq Supplemental Appropriation

In the Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2008 ( P.L. 110-252 ; H.R. In the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2010 ( P.L. 6028 ; H.Rept. In the 111 th Congress, similar bills have been introduced ( S. 205 , H.R. 1448 , and H.R. 1867 ).
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is the lead federal law enforcement agency charged with administering and enforcing federal laws related to the manufacture, importation, and distribution of firearms and explosives. Congress transferred ATF's enforcement and regulatory functions for firearms and explosives from the Department of the Treasury to the Department of Justice as part of the Homeland Security Act (P.L. 107-296). ATF is also responsible for investigating arson cases with a federal nexus, as well as criminal violations of federal laws governing the manufacture, importation, and distribution of alcohol and tobacco.
For the past two fiscal years, FY2009 and FY2010, Congress has provided ATF with program increases to address illegal gun trafficking from the United States to Mexico under an initiative known as "Project Gunrunner." For FY2008, Congress also provided ATF with a program increase for domestic gun trafficking, but the focus of this program increase was also largely on the Southwest border. As a result, for those three fiscal years, Congress has provided over $49 million in program increases to address gun trafficking. Congress has also provided nearly $30 million for the construction of a National Center for Explosives Training and Research (NCETR).
In the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2010 (P.L. 111-117), Congress matched the Administration's request and appropriated $1.121 billion for ATF, or 3.9% more than the agency's FY2009 appropriations ($1.078 billion). Conference report language (H.Rept. 111-366) indicated that the act included an increase of $18 million for Project Gunrunner, the same amount requested by the Administration; $10 million to increase the Violent Crime Impact Team program; $6 million for construction (phase two) of NCETR; and $1.5 million to complete ATF headquarters construction projects.
In the Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009 (P.L. 111-8), Congress appropriated $1.054 billion for ATF. This amount included at least a $5 million increase for Project Gunrunner. Congress also appropriated ATF an additional $14 million in the Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2009 (P.L. 111-32). This amount included a $4 million increase to upgrade and share ballistic imaging technology with the government of Mexico, and an additional $6 million increase for Project Gunrunner. In addition, Congress appropriated an additional $10 million for Project Gunrunner in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (P.L. 111-5). Hence, Congress provided $25 million in FY2009 budget enhancements to address Southwest border gun trafficking. For FY2009, in sum total, Congress appropriated ATF $1.078 billion, or 6.6% more than the FY2008 appropriation ($1.012 billion).
In the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008 (P.L. 110-161), Congress appropriated $1.008 billion for ATF. This act included an increase of $6.3 million to address domestic gun trafficking and $23.5 million for the construction of NCETR. In the Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2008 (P.L. 110-252), Congress appropriated an additional $4 million for ATF to provide explosives and cigarette trafficking training and support to Iraqi authorities. The total FY2008 ATF appropriation was $1.012 billion, or 2.4% more than the FY2007 appropriations ($988.1 million).
In the 110th Congress, the House passed a bill (H.R. 6028) that would have authorized increasing ATF appropriations over three years, for FY2008 through FY2010, by nearly $74 million to address Southwest border gun trafficking. Similar bills have been introduced in the 111th Congress (S. 205, H.R. 495, H.R. 1448, and H.R. 1867). This report will not be updated.