What does the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives do?
Updates published annually
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is a subdivision of the US Department of Justice responsible for enforcing federal laws related to the regulation of alcohol, tobacco, firearms, explosives, and arson. The agency's primary mission is to protect communities from violent criminals, criminal organizations, the illegal use and trafficking of firearms, the illegal use and storage of explosives, acts of arson and bombings, acts of terrorism, and the illegal diversion of alcohol and tobacco products. It was established in 1972.
In FY 2024,
$1.75B
was spent by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives
In FY 2024,
4.0%
of Dept. of Justice spending was by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives
How much does the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives spend?
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives spent a net total of $1.75 billion in fiscal year (FY) 2024. This was 4% of the $44 billion spent by the Department of Justice, which itself was 0.6% of all federal spending. The ATF ranked 6th among DOJ subdivisions in net spending.
Net spending is the difference between agency spending and any financial accounts generating funds from the agency’s own activities, like fees or rent. When these funds offset all spending, net spending appears negative. Some agencies tend to operate with positive net spending while others will register negative net spending sometimes or often.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives ranked 6th among Department of Justice divisions in net spending in 2024.
DOJ net spending by division, FY 2024
Like the overall federal budget, agency spending may shift over time due to population growth, changes in policy and programs, and emerging problems to address. Adjusting for inflation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives’ federal spending has increased from $519 million in 1980 to $1.75 billion in 2024.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives’s federal spending in FY 2024 was higher than in FY 1980.
Yearly federal net spending by ATF, adjusted for inflation (2024 dollars), FYs 1980–2024
Since 1980, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives' spending has increased 237.4%, while overall spending has increased 193.7%.
As a percentage of the overall federal budget, a positive number means agency net spending made up some positive share of total federal spending; a negative number means that net generated funds offset a portion of total spending. ATF spending grew more than overall federal spending since 1980, which means that its share of the federal budget increased. In 2024, ATF accounted for 0.026% of overall federal spending.
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Major legislation, internal or global economic conditions, and acute events like the COVID-19 pandemic can affect spending year to year. For example, the federal budget fluctuated during the pandemic, rising from $5.3 trillion (in 2023 dollars) in 2019 to $7.7 trillion in 2020 and $7.8 trillion in 2021.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives’s share of federal spending in FY 2024 was higher than in FY 1980.
Net spending by ATF as a share of federal spending, FYs 1980–2024
Most federal spending can be categorized as direct or indirect. Direct spending refers to money the federal government spends on budget items such as federal programs, employee salaries, and debt interest. Indirect spending refers to federal transfers to state and local governments.
In FY 2024, all of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives' spending was direct.
The chart below outlines all net ATF spending.
How did the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives spend its budget in 2024?
Federal government net spending isolated to ATF, FY 2024
How many people work for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives?
Some 5,298 of the 2.31 million total civilian federal employees work for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives as of September 2024. This is 2.8% more people than the division staffed in 2010.
The number of federal employees working for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives has increased 2.8% since 2010.
Number of federal employees working for ATF, September 2010–2024
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives accounts for 0.2% of the overall federal workforce. As the number of federal employees has changed, so too has the way the workforce is organized, with resources allocated to agencies depending on government priorities. The division constituted a similar share of the overall federal workforce in September 2024 compared to 2010 (0.2%).
While the number of employees on an agency’s payroll contributes to that agency’s expenditures, some agencies have relatively few employees compared to their budget or vice versa, giving them an outsized share of either the budget or the workforce. According to the most recent data, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives' share of the workforce (0.2%) is larger than its share of the budget (0.026%).
Who leads the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives?
The ATF is led by a director. This individual is nominated by the President of the United States and requires confirmation by the Senate. The ATF director reports to the Attorney General. There is no fixed term for this position.
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Methodology
USAFacts standardizes data, in areas such as time and demographics, to make it easier to understand and compare.
Page sources
USAFacts endeavors to share the most up-to-date information available. We sourced the data on this page directly from government agencies; however, the intervals at which agencies publish updated data vary.
Office of Personnel Management
FedScope
Office of Management and Budget and US Department of the Treasury
Budget of the US Government and Monthly Treasury Statement
