Cause to be admired – as 2 drug-hunting Feds replacing expert (6)
I believe the answer is:
endear
'admired as 2 drug-hunting feds replacing expert' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this defines the answer.
'cause to' is the wordplay.
'cause' becomes 'end' (end is a kind of cause).
'to' becomes 'ear' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'end'+'ear'='ENDEAR'
'be' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for endear that I've seen before include "Evoke love - charm" , "Draw" , "Make popular" , "Make prized" , "Give popularity to" .)