Kash Patel no longer heads ATF as Army Secretary steps in
Kash Patel, FBI director (Photo: Getty Images)
FBI Director Kash Patel has been removed from his role as acting head of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and replaced by Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll, AP News reports.
The reason behind the leadership change remains unclear.
According to sources familiar with the matter, Patel was removed from the role at the end of February - just days after being sworn in.
However, the move was never publicly announced. As of April 7, a press release still listed Patel as the acting director, and in March, he posted a "special message from the acting director" to ATF staff on social media.
"Director Patel was briefly designated ATF Director while awaiting Senate confirmations - a standard, short-term move," said White House spokesperson Harrison Fields.
"Director Patel is now excelling in his role at the FBI and delivering outstanding results," he added.
He was appointed FBI Director in December 2024 by then President-elect Donald Trump, who called him "a brilliant lawyer, investigator, and 'America First' fighter," according to Reuters.
Military leader takes charge of civilian law enforcement agency
Despite the temporary assignment, Driscoll remains Secretary of the Army. This puts a senior military official at the helm of a civilian law enforcement agency responsible for enforcing federal gun laws.
Traditionally, US defense officials have maintained a clear divide between military and law enforcement roles, though military forces can offer intelligence and logistical support to agencies like Customs and Border Protection.
Driscoll, 38, previously served as an adviser to Vice President JD Vance, whom he met while attending Yale Law School. He served in the Army for less than four years and left with the rank of first lieutenant.
In 2020, he ran unsuccessfully in the Republican primary for a congressional seat in North Carolina, earning about 8% of the vote in a crowded field.
Meanwhile, the Justice Department is considering a plan to merge the ATF and the Drug Enforcement Administration to streamline operations.
"The plan is designed to achieve efficiencies in resources, case deconfliction, and regulatory efforts," according to a memo by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche.
