
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, August 12, 1993                   TAG: 9308120175
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: The Washington Post
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                LENGTH: Medium

3 FEDERAL AGENCIES MAY BE COMBINED PROPOSAL WOULD MERGE FBI, DEA, ATF

Two federal agencies charged with fighting illegal drugs and guns would be merged into the Federal Bureau of Investigation under a Clinton administration proposal.

The proposed merger of the Drug Enforcement Administration and the law enforcement responsibilities of the Treasury Department's Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms into the FBI seeks to end "fragmentation and jurisdictional overlap," a draft administration document says.

It "will result in a more unified, comprehensive and coordinated attack on criminal enterprises through the consolidated jurisdiction and resources made available to the FBI."

The realignment is described in papers prepared for the National Performance Review, the "reinventing government" task force led by Vice President Al Gore.

But the proposal already has drawn fire inside the ATF and DEA and highlights the difficulties Gore will face as he attempts to streamline government.

Treasury Secretary Lloyd Bentsen is opposed to the ATF merger and Attorney General Janet Reno has reservations, a source said Wednesday, adding that if there is a merger, it most likely would involve the DEA and FBI. Bentsen and Reno will outline their concerns to Gore, the source said.

Gore's director of communications, Marla Romash, said, "There are a range of proposals across the government that are under consideration, but no decisions have been made."

The Gore task force was formed by Clinton in March to find ways to make the government work better while saving money. The task force's recommendations are scheduled to be announced Sept. 7.

by CNB