The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF) is a unique law enforcement agency in the United States Department of Justice that protects our communities from violent criminals, criminal organizations, the illegal use and trafficking of firearms, the illegal use and storage of explosives, acts of arson, acts of terrorism, and the illegal diversion of alcohol and tobacco products. ATF works directly and in cooperation with other Federal, state, local, and international law enforcement organizations, industry partners, public and private sector professional organizations, the scientific community and academia to accomplish its mission.
Under a provision of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, ATF was transferred from the Department of Treasury and aligned as a component in the Department of Justice (DOJ). “Explosives” was added to the Bureau’s name, reflecting an expertise in explosives investigations and an expanded role under the provisions of the Safe Explosives Act (SEA). The regulatory and revenue collecting functions, relating to the alcohol and tobacco industries, were transferred to the newly created Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau in the Department of Treasury.
