When did the “BATF” become the “BATFE”?
When the SecondAmendment Enforcment Commission (SEC) finally adjudicated them morally and ethically bankrupt, and forced them to put an "E" at the end of their ticker symbol.
IIRC, when they left the Treasury and went to DOJ.
2002.
In 2003, when it moved from Treasury to Justice, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms became the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. They still call it “ATF,” though, as opposed to “ATFE.” (Answer Man has spent some time around ATF agents. They love explosives, so it’s nice to see that reflected in the name.)
Answer Man: Name That Agency
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A32537-2005Mar13_2.html
When they were transferred to the Department of Justice, from the Treasury department. It was part of the reorganization of federal law enforcement that helped create the Homeland Security Department. On November 25, 2002, the Homeland Security Act of 2002 split the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms or BATF or, more commonly the ATF, into two different parts. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (BATF or ATF) was renamed the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and was moved into the Justice Department from the Treasury Department, and is responsible for the law enforcement effort.
There was so much confusion as how to pronounce BATF that they added the 'e' to ensure the 'A' is pronounced as a long 'A' not the short 'A'. :^)