The clue “part of the D.O.J.” in the New York Times crossword is typically answered with FBI or DEA , depending on the crossing letters and puzzle date.

Likely answer for your clue

For recent NYT crosswords, especially mid‑2025 onward, the most common 3‑letter answer for “Part of the D.O.J.” has been:

  • FBI – Refers to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which operates under the U.S. Department of Justice.

Other possible answers that have appeared for similar clues include:

  • DEA – Drug Enforcement Administration, also a component agency of the Department of Justice.

How to confirm in your grid

To be sure in your specific puzzle:

  • If the pattern is F _ I , the answer is very likely FBI.
  • If the pattern is D E _ , the answer is likely DEA.
  • Check all crossing entries; a single wrong DOJ agency will usually break several answers around it.

Why these agencies fit

Both FBI and DEA are:

  • Federal law enforcement agencies.
  • Housed within the Department of Justice , making them literally “part of the D.O.J.” in a straightforward, non-tricky way.

If you share the letters you already have (e.g., “_ B I”), it becomes trivial to choose between them.