Chad Chronister, the nominee for the head of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) by U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, has decided to withdraw from consideration. Chronister, who serves as the sheriff of Hillsborough County, Florida, is the second nominee to step back, following former Florida Representative Matt Gaetz’s withdrawal from the attorney general nomination.
In a post on X, Chronister explained that after careful thought about the significance of the role, he concluded that there was still vital work to be done in his current position. “Over the past several days, as the gravity of this very important responsibility set in, I’ve concluded that I must respectfully withdraw from consideration,” he stated.
“I sincerely appreciate the nomination, the outpouring of support from the American people, and look forward to continuing my service as Sheriff of Hillsborough County,” Chronister added.
To have been nominated by President-Elect @realDonaldTrump to serve as Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration is the honor of a lifetime. Over the past several days, as the gravity of this very important responsibility set in, I’ve concluded that I must respectfully… pic.twitter.com/bvNF8m9Bh4
— Chad Chronister (@ChadChronister) December 3, 2024
The Trump transition team has yet to release a statement regarding the withdrawal.
President-elect Trump had announced on Sunday his intention to nominate Chronister to head the DEA, highlighting that his focus would be on reducing the flow of fentanyl across the U.S.-Mexico border. The DEA, which operates under the Department of Justice, is responsible for enforcing the nation’s drug laws.
However, Mr. Chronister’s nomination was met with criticism from some of President-elect Trump’s supporters, who objected to his selection due to his role in enforcing public health orders during the Covid pandemic.
The primary source of criticism was his decision to arrest a pastor for holding large church services in March 2020, which violated state and local health guidelines after the World Health Organization declared Covid-19 a pandemic.
According to the Washington Post, the Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association expressed their shock and disappointment at Chronister’s selection, particularly because of his enforcement of Covid restrictions.
Moreover, a Reuters report suggested that despite Chronister’s 30 years of experience in law enforcement, he may lack the broader qualifications needed to lead the DEA.
