FBI Director Kash Patel was removed as the acting director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and is being replaced by U.S. Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll.
Driscoll will continue to serve as Army secretary while he oversees the ATF, which is part of the Justice Department.
Patel also had an unusual setup, serving as both FBI director and acting ATF director. He was sworn in as ATF’s acting director earlier this year after he was confirmed as FBI director. Patel has been largely absent from the ATF, having only shown up at its headquarters once, according to the Washington Post.
It is not clear when Patel was removed from the role, according to Reuters.
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The ATF works with local law enforcement to investigate gun crimes. It is responsible for regulating the sales and licensing of firearms based on laws Congress passes.
The leadership change comes as DOJ officials weigh merging ATF with the Drug Enforcement Administration as a cost-cutting method.
