DEA Expands Which Supervisors Can Sign Administrative Subpoenas

The Justice Department’s Drug Enforcement Administration has updated an internal regulation to let three additional categories of supervisors sign and issue administrative subpoenas. The new rule adds DEA Supervisory Diversion Investigators, DEA Field Intelligence Managers, and DEA Intelligence Group Supervisors to the list of officials who can issue these subpoenas.

Why it matters: This is primarily an administrative adjustment. By allowing more supervisors to issue subpoenas directly, the DEA reduces the need to route paperwork through higher-ranking officials. It does not change what the DEA can investigate or who they can target, nor does it affect the public or businesses directly. The practical effect is faster internal processing for existing investigative workflows.

Who it affects

• DEA field supervisors in the Diversion Control and Intelligence divisions

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This final rule was issued by the Department of Justice and published in the Federal Register; you should review the original document (FR Doc. 2026-10177) for the exact regulatory text and citations before relying on it.

Agency: Justice Department
Source: Federal Register — read the official document