
ATF recruited these agents to serve their country and uphold the law during a time when women were still fighting for their right to vote. Not only did they combat illegal distilling, sales and distribution of alcohol, but they also served as a deterrent for bootleggers who had recruited women as smugglers during an era male agents couldn’t touch them due to cultural norms of the time. Female prohibition agents such as Georgia Hopley and Hannah Brigham worked to uncover evidence of criminal activities and dismantle illegal alcohol trafficking organizations. Treasury Department, ATF was originally responsible for enforcing the National Prohibition Law of 1919, also known as the Volstead Act. Every day, they overcome a variety of emerging threats and challenges to help keep local communities safe from violent crimes. Today, the women of ATF serve in diverse roles throughout the agency, from law enforcement and regulation to intelligence, investigation, forensics, research, and mission support.

Since the beginning, women have played a critical role in enforcing federal laws, capturing violent criminals and making historic changes in law enforcement that still hold true today.

More than 100 years ago, ATF was created to serve as the federal agency responsible for investigating criminal activities and organizations with a focus on making communities across the nation safe.
