Terrance Cole is New Administrator for US Drug Enforcement Administration

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In a July 25, 2025, press release, the US Drug Enforcement Administration announced the appointment of Terrance “Terry” C. Cole as the new Administrator as of July 23, his nomination having been confirmed by the Senate with a 50 – 47 vote (1,2).

Previously, Cole had served as Virginia’s Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security since 2023, after retiring from federal service in 2020. He has served for more than 31 years in law enforcement, with 22 of those years being with the DEA.

“As I once again walk through the doors of DEA, I am reminded of the passion and commitment I carried as a Special Agent, the same passion that drives the men and women in this agency,” Cole stated in the press release. “The gravity of DEA’s mission was clear as I stood witness to President Donald Trump signing the Halt Fentanyl Act surrounded by Angel Families holding onto the memories of those they lost. They are the reason we remain focused, determined, and unwavering. The cartels and Foreign Terrorist Organizations fueling this crisis are global in reach – and so is the DEA. With the support of the Trump Administration, the Department of Justice, and our international, federal, state, local, and tribal partners, we will dismantle these violent cartels and make America Safe Again.”

Cole’s most significant priority as Administrator, the press release stated, is on combatting drug cartels and the drug crisis in the US. His other priorities are also listed and summarized in the press release (1):

• Affirming DEA’s Commitment to Enforcement – targeting traffickers, removing poison from the streets of this country, and protecting the vulnerable.
• Dismantling the Mexican Cartels, which operate as terrorist organizations, by targeting and breaking their command, control, and distribution networks that drive the fentanyl crisis.
• Disrupting the Criminal Chemical Supply Chain that supply the chemical ingredients used in the manufacture of fentanyl.
• Reducing Drug-Fueled Violence in America’s most affected cities through expanded partnerships with state and local law enforcement.
• Following the Money – targeting illicit finance and the growing use of cryptocurrency.
• Leading the Fight on the Cyber and Dark Web Frontlines by targeting the digital pipelines that fuel drug trafficking.
• Strengthening Partnerships Across the Country and with Foreign Counterparts to drive coordinated enforcement efforts against transnational criminal organizations.
• Prioritizing the Wellness of DEA's Workforce, recognizing that the agency's greatest strength is its people.

Past DEA Administrators include Anne Milgram, who served during the now-stalled hearing on the proposed rulemaking on the rescheduling of cannabis (3).

References

1. US Drug Enforcement Administration. Terrance C. Cole Sworn in as Administrator of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration https://www.dea.gov/press-releases/2025/07/25/terrance-c-cole-sworn-administrator-us-drug-enforcement-administration (accessed July 28, 2025).
2. Congress.gov. PN26—Terrance Cole—Department of Justice. https://www.congress.gov/nomination/119th-congress/26/11 (accessed July 28, 2025).
3. McEvoy, E. Drug Enforcement Administration Announces Date for Cannabis Hearing https://www.cannabissciencetech.com/view/drug-enforcement-administration-announces-date-for-cannabis-hearing (accessed July 28, 2025).