Appropriators backed a crime-fighting unit. DOJ closed it anyway.

Much longer article of how this happened



Appropriators backed a crime-fighting unit. DOJ closed it anyway.
Trump administration changes how the US goes after major transnational crime groups


https://rollcall.com/2025/12/18/appropriators-backed-a-crimefighting-unit-doj-closed-it-anyway/

By Ryan Tarinelli Posted December 18, 2025 at 7:00am

For months, there were signs that appropriators were not on board with a Trump administration plan to wipe out funding for a decades-old Justice Department program tasked with coordinating major drug-trafficking and transnational-crime investigations.

Republican-led spending proposals rejected the idea. A Senate report said eliminating the program’s appropriations account would be “infeasible” without more consultation, while a House report touted the program’s “demonstrated ability” to share information efficiently to “keep Americans safe.”

During a September markup, veteran House appropriator Harold Rogers put it this way: “Our commitment to the work of the task forces can’t be underestimated or understated.”

The Justice Department disbanded it anyway.

The fate of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces is one example of how the Trump administration has bulldozed past Congress’ appropriations power as it reorganizes the federal government to match the vision of the president, oftentimes with little to no meaningful public pushback from GOP lawmakers. ...............................