Trump taps Florida sheriff to lead DEA and oversee US fentanyl fight

WASHINGTON – President-elect Donald Trump on Saturday tapped a veteran Florida sheriff to lead the Drug Enforcement Administration, a key role in Trump’s war against Mexican drug cartels and fentanyl traffickers, who have caused a record number of overdose deaths in the last years.

Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister has worked for the county for more than 32 years “and has received countless awards for keeping his community safe,” Trump. he wrote in a post on Saturday night on its Truth Social platform.

If confirmed by the Senate, Chronister would replace President Joe Biden’s DEA administrator, Anne Milgram, a former New Jersey attorney general charged with aggressively cracking down on the trafficking and sale of fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that is more than 50 times stronger than heroin. .

Chronister described his nomination Saturday night as “the honor of a lifetime” in a post on X, adding that he is “deeply humbled by this opportunity to serve our nation.”

Trump described Chronister as a “proud graduate of the FBI National Academy” and co-chairman of the Homeland Security Regional Group for the Tampa, Florida region. He is also a member of the Florida Attorney General’s State Human Trafficking Council, Trump said.

“As Administrator of the DEA, Chad will work with our great Attorney General Pam Bondi to secure the border, stop the flow of fentanyl and other illegal drugs across the southern border, and SAVE LIVES,” Trump wrote .

Chronister appears to be close to Bondi, the former two-term Florida attorney general whom Trump named attorney general, the nation’s top law enforcement official and head of the Justice Department, which oversees the DEA, FBI and other agencies federal. agents. Trump’s first choice for that job, Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida, withdrew from consideration amid the allegations of sexual misconductwhich Gaetz denies.

“Our country is lucky to have @PamBondi as President @realDonaldTrump nominee for US Attorney General. She is such a selfless servant who will be tireless in keeping us all safe,” said Chronister a post from November 22 on X which included a photo of the two together.

Trump also announced Saturday his pick to lead the FBI, a former Republican House staffer and staunch supporter Kashyap “Kash” Patelsignaling his intention to fire current FBI Director Christopher Wray once he takes office in January.

Chronister has a low public profile outside of Florida. But Trump’s announcement was followed by praise for the veteran sheriff from some Florida officials, including Tampa Mayor Jane Castor.

“Well deserved,” Castor said in a post on X. “An excellent choice by President-elect Trump.”

A national security threat to the United States

Trump repeatedly singled out the opioid crisis during his campaign as one of his top priorities, pledging to combat it not just as a law enforcement problem but as a top national security threat.

As head of the DEA, Chronister would be expected to play a key role in that effort, overseeing efforts to interdict the drug from Mexico and the precursor chemical fentanyl from China. The DEA administrator also oversees the agency’s expanded efforts to reduce the demand for illegal drugs by American consumers and help increase treatment opportunities for them.

Chronister will also be involved in the politics of America’s war on drugs, given Trump’s oath it hit Mexico, Canada and China with stiff tariffs if they don’t agree to it, calls to step up and play a more aggressive role in combating fentanyl and illegal immigration to the US

The DEA has approximately 10,000 employees, with over 4,600 special agents and offices in the US and around the world. The annual budget exceeds 3.2 billion dollars.