Joe Morelle, U.S. Congressman representing New York’s 25th district, announced on November 6, 2025, that he has introduced new legislation aimed at preserving the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), a federal initiative focused on combating organized crime and drug trafficking.
In a post published on November 6, 2025, Morelle stated, “For over 40 years, the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) has been at the center of our nationwide fight against crime, and we cannot allow it to be dismantled. I’ve authored new legislation to save OCDETF and ensure its continued operation for years to come.” In a related tweet from the same day, he criticized recent actions by the Trump administration: “At a time when the American people are looking for real, common-sense solutions to the problems they face, the Trump administration is instead choosing to dismantle an initiative that has successfully lowered crime in cities across the United States, including here in Rochester.” He also shared a link for further reading: “Read more: https://t.co/4Ub3D5eUTy”
Joseph Morelle has served in Congress since 2018 after replacing Louise Slaughter and previously held office in the New York State Assembly from 1991 to 2018. Born in Utica in 1957 and currently residing in Irondequoit, Morelle graduated from SUNY Geneseo with a BA in 1986.
The OCDETF program was established over four decades ago as part of federal efforts to coordinate law enforcement agencies against organized criminal networks involved in drug trafficking. The future of this task force is now under debate following proposals from the Trump administration regarding its status.
