diff --git a/api/server/controllers/auth/AdminLoginController.js b/api/server/controllers/auth/AdminLoginController.js
deleted file mode 100644
index 6744444570..0000000000
--- a/api/server/controllers/auth/AdminLoginController.js
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,77 +0,0 @@
-const { logger, signPayload } = require('@librechat/data-schemas');
-const { generate2FATempToken } = require('~/server/services/twoFactorService');
-const { setAuthTokens } = require('~/server/services/AuthService');
-
-/**
- * Generates admin-specific JWT token with isAdmin claim
- * @param {Object} user - User object from database
- * @returns {Promise<string>} - JWT token
- */
-const generateAdminToken = async (user) => {
-  if (!user) {
-    throw new Error('No user provided');
-  }
-
-  let expires = 1000 * 60 * 15; // 15 minutes default
-
-  if (process.env.SESSION_EXPIRY !== undefined && process.env.SESSION_EXPIRY !== '') {
-    try {
-      const evaluated = eval(process.env.SESSION_EXPIRY);
-      if (evaluated) {
-        expires = evaluated;
-      }
-    } catch (error) {
-      logger.warn('Invalid SESSION_EXPIRY expression, using default:', error);
-    }
-  }
-
-  return await signPayload({
-    payload: {
-      id: user._id,
-      username: user.username,
-      provider: user.provider,
-      email: user.email,
-      isAdmin: true, // Admin-specific claim
-    },
-    secret: process.env.JWT_SECRET,
-    expirationTime: expires / 1000,
-  });
-};
-
-/**
- * Admin login controller - handles authentication for admin users
- * Returns admin-specific JWT with isAdmin claim
- */
-const adminLoginController = async (req, res) => {
-  try {
-    if (!req.user) {
-      return res.status(400).json({ message: 'Invalid credentials' });
-    }
-
-    // User role validation is already done in requireAdminAuth middleware
-
-    // Handle 2FA if enabled
-    if (req.user.twoFactorEnabled) {
-      const tempToken = generate2FATempToken(req.user._id);
-      return res.status(200).json({ twoFAPending: true, tempToken });
-    }
-
-    const { password: _p, totpSecret: _t, __v, ...user } = req.user;
-    user.id = user._id.toString();
-
-    // Generate admin-specific token
-    const token = await generateAdminToken(req.user);
-
-    // Set standard auth cookies (refreshToken, etc.)
-    await setAuthTokens(req.user._id, res);
-
-    return res.status(200).send({ token, user, isAdmin: true });
-  } catch (err) {
-    logger.error('[adminLoginController]', err);
-    return res.status(500).json({ message: 'Something went wrong' });
-  }
-};
-
-module.exports = {
-  adminLoginController,
-};
diff --git a/api/server/controllers/auth/AdminVerifyController.js b/api/server/controllers/auth/AdminVerifyController.js
deleted file mode 100644
index ff835316a3..0000000000
--- a/api/server/controllers/auth/AdminVerifyController.js
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,39 +0,0 @@
-const { logger } = require('@librechat/data-schemas');
-const { SystemRoles } = require('librechat-data-provider');
-
-/**
- * Admin token verification controller
- * Verifies JWT token and returns user data if valid and has admin role
- * Used by admin panel to verify authentication status
- */
-const adminVerifyController = async (req, res) => {
-  try {
-    // User is already authenticated via requireAdminJwtAuth middleware
-    if (!req.user) {
-      return res.status(401).json({ message: 'Unauthorized' });
-    }
-
-    // Double-check admin role (redundant but ensures security)
-    if (!req.user.role || req.user.role !== SystemRoles.ADMIN) {
-      logger.warn('[adminVerifyController] Non-admin user attempting to verify:', req.user.email);
-      return res.status(403).json({ message: 'Access denied: Admin privileges required' });
-    }
-
-    // Return user data without sensitive fields
-    const { password: _p, totpSecret: _t, __v, ...user } = req.user;
-    user.id = user._id.toString();
-
-    return res.status(200).json({
-      valid: true,
-      user,
-      isAdmin: true,
-    });
-  } catch (err) {
-    logger.error('[adminVerifyController]', err);
-    return res.status(500).json({ message: 'Something went wrong' });
-  }
-};
-
-module.exports = {
-  adminVerifyController,
-};
diff --git a/api/server/middleware/index.js b/api/server/middleware/index.js
index 7d8e000e18..6f382f5e0a 100644
--- a/api/server/middleware/index.js
+++ b/api/server/middleware/index.js
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ const requireLdapAuth = require('./requireLdapAuth');
 const abortMiddleware = require('./abortMiddleware');
 const checkInviteUser = require('./checkInviteUser');
 const requireJwtAuth = require('./requireJwtAuth');
+const requireAdmin = require('./requireAdmin');
 const configMiddleware = require('./config/app');
 const validateModel = require('./validateModel');
 const moderateText = require('./moderateText');
@@ -40,8 +41,7 @@ module.exports = {
   moderateText,
   validateModel,
   requireJwtAuth,
-  requireAdminAuth,
-  requireAdminJwtAuth,
+  requireAdmin,
   checkInviteUser,
   requireLdapAuth,
   requireLocalAuth,
diff --git a/api/server/middleware/requireAdmin.js b/api/server/middleware/requireAdmin.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..12d1b751d9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/api/server/middleware/requireAdmin.js
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+const { SystemRoles } = require('librechat-data-provider');
+const { logger } = require('~/config');
+
+/**
+ * Middleware to check if authenticated user has admin role
+ * Should be used AFTER authentication middleware (requireJwtAuth, requireLocalAuth, etc.)
+ */
+const requireAdmin = (req, res, next) => {
+  if (!req.user) {
+    logger.warn('[requireAdmin] No user found in request');
+    return res.status(401).json({ message: 'Authentication required' });
+  }
+
+  if (!req.user.role || req.user.role !== SystemRoles.ADMIN) {
+    logger.debug('[requireAdmin] Access denied for non-admin user:', req.user.email);
+    return res.status(403).json({ message: 'Access denied: Admin privileges required' });
+  }
+
+  next();
+};
+
+module.exports = requireAdmin;
diff --git a/api/server/middleware/requireAdminAuth.js b/api/server/middleware/requireAdminAuth.js
deleted file mode 100644
index 03e2b2cf17..0000000000
--- a/api/server/middleware/requireAdminAuth.js
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,35 +0,0 @@
-const passport = require('passport');
-const { logger } = require('@librechat/data-schemas');
-const { SystemRoles } = require('librechat-data-provider');
-
-/**
- * Middleware for admin authentication using local strategy
- * Validates credentials and ensures user has admin role
- */
-const requireAdminAuth = (req, res, next) => {
-  passport.authenticate('local', (err, user, info) => {
-    if (err) {
-      logger.error('[requireAdminAuth] Error at passport.authenticate:', err);
-      return next(err);
-    }
-    if (!user) {
-      logger.debug('[requireAdminAuth] Error: No user');
-      return res.status(404).send(info);
-    }
-    if (info && info.message) {
-      logger.debug('[requireAdminAuth] Error: ' + info.message);
-      return res.status(422).send({ message: info.message });
-    }
-
-    // Check if user has admin role
-    if (!user.role || user.role !== SystemRoles.ADMIN) {
-      logger.debug('[requireAdminAuth] Error: User is not an admin');
-      return res.status(403).send({ message: 'Access denied: Admin privileges required' });
-    }
-
-    req.user = user;
-    next();
-  })(req, res, next);
-};
-
-module.exports = requireAdminAuth;
diff --git a/api/server/middleware/requireAdminJwtAuth.js b/api/server/middleware/requireAdminJwtAuth.js
deleted file mode 100644
index 346799b933..0000000000
--- a/api/server/middleware/requireAdminJwtAuth.js
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,42 +0,0 @@
-const cookies = require('cookie');
-const passport = require('passport');
-const { isEnabled } = require('@librechat/api');
-const { logger } = require('@librechat/data-schemas');
-const { SystemRoles } = require('librechat-data-provider');
-
-/**
- * Custom Middleware to handle JWT authentication for admin endpoints
- * Validates JWT token and ensures user has admin role
- */
-const requireAdminJwtAuth = (req, res, next) => {
-  // Check if token provider is specified in cookies
-  const cookieHeader = req.headers.cookie;
-  const tokenProvider = cookieHeader ? cookies.parse(cookieHeader).token_provider : null;
-
-  // Use OpenID authentication if token provider is OpenID and OPENID_REUSE_TOKENS is enabled
-  const authStrategy =
-    tokenProvider === 'openid' && isEnabled(process.env.OPENID_REUSE_TOKENS) ? 'openidJwt' : 'jwt';
-
-  passport.authenticate(authStrategy, { session: false }, (err, user, _info) => {
-    if (err) {
-      logger.error('[requireAdminJwtAuth] Authentication error:', err);
-      return res.status(500).json({ message: 'Authentication error' });
-    }
-
-    if (!user) {
-      logger.debug('[requireAdminJwtAuth] No user found');
-      return res.status(401).json({ message: 'Unauthorized' });
-    }
-
-    // Check if user has admin role
-    if (!user.role || user.role !== SystemRoles.ADMIN) {
-      logger.debug('[requireAdminJwtAuth] User is not an admin:', user.email);
-      return res.status(403).json({ message: 'Access denied: Admin privileges required' });
-    }
-
-    req.user = user;
-    next();
-  })(req, res, next);
-};
-
-module.exports = requireAdminJwtAuth;
diff --git a/api/server/routes/admin/auth.js b/api/server/routes/admin/auth.js
index 003784635a..ac3cf0f0e6 100644
--- a/api/server/routes/admin/auth.js
+++ b/api/server/routes/admin/auth.js
@@ -1,25 +1,40 @@
 const express = require('express');
-const { adminVerifyController } = require('~/server/controllers/auth/AdminVerifyController');
-const { adminLoginController } = require('~/server/controllers/auth/AdminLoginController');
+const { loginController } = require('~/server/controllers/auth/LoginController');
+const { getAppConfig } = require('~/server/services/Config');
+const { createSetBalanceConfig } = require('@librechat/api');
 const middleware = require('~/server/middleware');
+const { Balance } = require('~/db/models');
+
+const setBalanceConfig = createSetBalanceConfig({
+  getAppConfig,
+  Balance,
+});
 
 const router = express.Router();
 
-// Admin local authentication route
+// Admin local authentication route - reuses main login controller
 router.post(
   '/login/local',
   middleware.logHeaders,
   middleware.loginLimiter,
   middleware.checkBan,
-  middleware.requireAdminAuth, // Uses local auth strategy + admin role validation
-  adminLoginController,
+  middleware.requireLocalAuth, // Standard local auth
+  middleware.requireAdmin, // Then check if user is admin
+  setBalanceConfig,
+  loginController, // Reuse existing login controller
 );
 
-// Admin token verification endpoint
+// Admin token verification endpoint - simple JWT verify + admin check
 router.get(
   '/verify',
-  middleware.requireAdminJwtAuth, // Validates JWT + admin role
-  adminVerifyController,
+  middleware.requireJwtAuth, // Standard JWT auth
+  middleware.requireAdmin, // Then check if user is admin
+  (req, res) => {
+    // Simple response - user is already verified by middleware
+    const { password: _p, totpSecret: _t, __v, ...user } = req.user;
+    user.id = user._id.toString();
+    res.status(200).json({ user });
+  },
 );
 
 // TODO: Future OAuth/OpenID routes will be added here