In a move that flew under the radar, the Trump administration quietly removed Kash Patel from his short-lived role as acting director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives — better known as the ATF.
Patel, who also holds the top job at the FBI, was reportedly ousted just days after being appointed to lead the ATF back in February. The change, though not publicly explained, has been confirmed by several unnamed Trump officials. However, the ATF's own website still lists him as its acting head, and he was even referred to as such in a press release as recently as April 7.
Patel’s replacement is none other than Daniel Driscoll, the current US Secretary of the Army. Driscoll is now juggling two massive responsibilities: overseeing America’s military might and leading the agency responsible for enforcing federal gun laws and tackling violent crime.
Driscoll’s new role puts a military leader in charge of a domestic law enforcement agency, a rare setup that raises a few eyebrows. Historically, there’s been a clear line between military duties and civilian law enforcement. US troops aren’t allowed to carry out law enforcement on American soil, though they do support border security efforts in other ways.
Reports say even senior officials at the ATF reportedly weren’t informed until earlier this week. Meanwhile, Patel had continued communicating with ATF staff in March, referring to himself as the acting director in internal messages. It’s still unclear when exactly the change was made or why.
Patel's dual role had always been a bit unusual — leading both the FBI and the ATF at the same time isn’t exactly standard practice. Behind the scenes, there’s talk that the Justice Department is considering merging the ATF with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), potentially streamlining both agencies under one roof.
Driscoll, a Yale Law School alum and former Army officer, is no stranger to politics either. He once ran for Congress in North Carolina but didn’t gain much traction. Now, he’s at the helm of one of the country’s most important law enforcement agencies — while still leading the Army.
