Federal drug prosecutions fall to lowest level in decades as Trump shifts focus to deportations

The number of people federally charged with drug offenses in the U.S. has fallen to its lowest level in decades, according to a Reuters review of nearly 2 million court records, after President Trump directed law enforcement agencies to shift focus toward deporting immigrants. 

By mid‑September 2025, prosecutions for drug violations were about 10 percent lower than in the same period in 2024—roughly 1,200 fewer cases—marking the slowest pace seen since at least the late 1990s. The steepest declines came in conspiracy and money‑laundering charges, which are typically used to pursue major trafficking networks: money laundering prosecutions fell by 24 percent. 

Soon after returning to office in January, Trump launched what is described as the most sweeping revamp of U.S. law enforcement in decades, ordering thousands of federal agents to prioritize immigration-related operations. That directive has, by many accounts, sidelined lengthy investigations into drug networks across the country. Officials cite fewer new cases being developed, delays in ongoing investigations, and prosecutors increasingly allocated to immigration matters. 

Even high-profile narcotics cases have been affected. One prosecutor told Reuters his fentanyl investigation is stalled because agents were diverted to deportation duties. Another source said drug-ring probes are routinely being postponed.

The reshuffling of priorities extends beyond drug cases. The drop in prosecutions also touches gun‑related charges—those involving illegal firearm possession or using guns in drug crimes dropped about 5 percent this year. 

Meanwhile, violence from drug trafficking remains a pressing problem: U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s drug seizures are up roughly 6 percent compared to a year ago, suggesting that the supply side hasn’t abated. 

Officials at the Justice Department defend the shift, saying that indictments alone don’t capture the full picture and emphasizing that the administration is still targeting violent traffickers, international cartels, and prioritizing border security. But critics warn that the redirection of resources could weaken the capacity to dismantle organized drug networks, potentially undermining long-term efforts to stem trafficking. 

In sum, the drop in federal drug prosecutions in 2025 reflects a profound change in enforcement strategy: agents and prosecutors once focused on drug and financial crime are now being pulled toward immigration mission priorities, with unclear consequences for efforts to combat illegal drugs.

Source: Reuters