You are correct. But the BATF seems to be a weird exception. For example, they lobbied Congress to make eliminate 80% of the firearm dealers that they regulated, instead of asking for the manpower to regulate them better.
“For example, they lobbied Congress to make eliminate 80% of the firearm dealers that they regulated, instead of asking for the manpower to regulate them better.”
It is probable that for political reasons, control, they want fewer dealers. This in no way would make them smaller. They would enhance the more jackbooted sections of their mission with more people and equipment. If I recall, it was BATF that went after the folks at Waco. They had to surrender control to the FBI after they had failed with huge losses. The entire operation at Waco was unnecessary as the local sheriff told them if they wanted Koresh all they had to do was pick him up on his morning jog. But they wanted to show their might and firepower more than they wanted to arrest a single man with little or no firepower display. In other words, they wanted to display the necessity of the manpower and firepower. Power is no fun if you don’t use it.