Bearing Arms by Cam Edwards 4/9/2025
When Donald Trump named FBI Director Kash Patel as Acting Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the presumption was that Patel was taking on those additional job duties on a temporary basis. Still, I don't think many folks were expecting Patel to step away from doing double duty after just a couple of months on the job.
That's exactly what's happened, however, with Trump naming Secretary of the Army Daniel Driscoll as the ATF's new Acting Director, effective today.
Ken Dilanian
@KenDilanianNBC
FBI Director Kash Patel has been removed from his role as acting director of the ATF, and the job has been given to Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, two Justice Department officials and another source familiar with the matter tell NBC News.
ATF officials who learned the news today were shocked and confused, the two DoJ officials said, and no explanation for the change was given.
The Justice Department did not respond to our request for comment. Nor did a spokeswoman for Patel.
Driscoll, who is 38 pr 39, is expected to continue in his job as Army Secretary. Both roles are normally considered full time jobs.
Sources say Patel had not been seen inside an ATF facility for weeks.
“President Trump’s decision to appoint Acting Director Driscoll is indicative of his resolve to bring reform to the ATF and protect the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens and the industry that makes it possible to exercise those rights,” said Lawrence G. Keane, NSSF Senior Vice President and General Counsel. “NSSF is deeply appreciative of FBI Director Kash Patel’s service to lead the ATF as Acting Director for nearly two months in his interim role and the recognition, along with U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, that the ATF was weaponized by the previous administration to carry out a radical gun control agenda. The firearm industry is confident that President Trump’s appointment of Acting Director Driscoll to lead the ATF will return the bureau to its proper role as a law enforcement agency laser focused on combatting violent crime and illegal firearms trafficking, and to act as a non-partisan regulator of the firearm industry.”
More:
https://bearingarms.com/camedwards/2025/04/09/donald-trump-makes-big-change-at-atf-n1228262
