The DEA may not directly set drug policy [0] (it's also part of the "federal government" so I don't understand your distinction here) but it most certainly has a large input on which schedule a drug gets classified. The Attorney General can add, change or remove a drug from any of the schedules at will and would do so based on advice from DEA agents. The DEA is part of the DoJ which is headed by the Attorney General.

[0] http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/21cfr/21usc/811.htm