Chicago: ICYMI: Mayor Brandon Johnson Blasts Trump For Cutting $468 Million From ATF, Allowing Influx of Illegal Guns
illi News/10311828

Trending...
CHICAGO ~ In a press conference held today, Mayor Brandon Johnson of Chicago strongly criticized President Donald Trump for his actions towards the U.S. Armed Forces and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). Mayor Johnson accused the President of playing political games while simultaneously cutting funding for gun intelligence programs and laying off ATF staff.

Mayor Johnson questioned the motives behind Trump's decision to cut $468 million from the ATF's budget in his recent bill. He also pointed out that funding for the agency responsible for removing guns from the streets has been reduced by 29%. This has resulted in a decrease of 1,465 positions within the agency, which is crucial in reducing gun violence. The Mayor expressed concern over this move and questioned why resources were being diverted to agencies like ICE and Border Patrol instead.

The Chicago Police Department (CPD) has been working tirelessly to remove illegal guns from their streets. Since Mayor Johnson took office, they have successfully taken 24,000 guns off the streets. However, data from CPD shows that 60% of these guns originate from outside Illinois, with a majority coming from Republican-run states such as Indiana, Mississippi, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Alabama.

More on illi News
The President's budget bill includes a significant cut of $468 million to the ATF's budget. This means that in FY26, the agency will be funded at almost the same level as it was in 2010. When adjusted for inflation and population growth, this amounts to a staggering 46% decrease in operational funding since 2010 according to reports from the Center for American Progress.

Furthermore, due to these budget cuts, ATF will have to reduce its staff by 29%, leaving only 3,671 employees by 2026 compared to 5,136 positions in 2025. This includes eliminating over half of their industry operations investigators who play a crucial role in inspecting gun dealers. The Department of Justice estimates that these reductions will decrease ATF's capacity to regulate the firearms industry by 40%.

The partnership between the ATF and CPD has been vital in their efforts to keep guns off the streets. In a recent joint investigation, 41 people were arrested, and 171 firearms and 64 machine gun conversion devices were recovered in the Chicago area. This highlights the importance of collaboration between federal and local law enforcement agencies.

More on illi News
Mayor Johnson emphasized that the City of Chicago welcomes meaningful partnerships with federal law enforcement as they continue to combat violent crime. He also highlighted the significant progress made in reducing overall violent crime, homicides, robberies, and vehicular hijackings this year.

One of the key contributors to this progress has been CPD's Crime Gun Intelligence Center (CGIC), which was established in partnership with ATF's Chicago Field Office in 2024. The CGIC allows for quicker linking of guns to shootings and helps investigate crimes more efficiently. However, with the budget cuts proposed by the Trump administration, there will be fewer investigations and operations with local law enforcement, ultimately putting community safety at risk.

In conclusion, Mayor Johnson called on the Trump administration to take action to stop the flow of illegal guns into Chicago from Republican-run states instead of wasting resources on a military occupation. He urged for meaningful partnerships between federal agencies and local law enforcement to continue their efforts in reducing gun violence. The full press conference can be viewed online for those interested in learning more about this pressing issue.

Filed Under: Government, City
Show All News | Report Violation

0 Comments

Latest on illi News