WASHINGTON (AP) — Kash Patel is poised to be appointed as the acting head of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), as reported by a Justice Department official on Saturday. This forthcoming appointment could take place next week and would see Patel managing two major agencies within the Justice Department, a development that raises significant concerns regarding the future direction of the ATF, an organization that has long faced criticism from conservative factions.
The official, who requested anonymity while discussing this pre-announcement decision, mentioned that White House representatives did not provide immediate comments regarding this significant transition. Earlier, on Friday, February 21, 2025, Patel was sworn in as the FBI director after securing Senate approval, despite apprehensions from Democrats regarding his proposed radical reforms within the FBI.
The ATF operates as a distinct agency with approximately 5,500 employees and is tasked with enforcing national laws concerning firearms, explosives, and arson. Its responsibilities include licensing federal firearms dealers, tracing firearms used in criminal activities, and providing analytical support to shooting investigations.
This latest news comes in the wake of Attorney General Pam Bondi's dismissal of the ATF's chief lawyer, Pamela Hicks. In a Fox News interview on Friday, Bondi explained that the termination was due to allegations that the agency was targeting gun owners. Hicks, who had dedicated over two decades to the Justice Department, described her role as ATF chief counsel as the "highest honor" of her career.
The ATF has been a frequent target of conservative criticism over its regulatory role concerning firearms, and some have even suggested dismantling the agency altogether. Under President Joe Biden's administration, the ATF implemented new regulations aimed at combating the proliferation of ghost guns and mandated that a greater number of firearms dealers conduct background checks on buyers at gun shows and other non-traditional retail settings.
Recently, President Donald Trump issued an executive order directing the attorney general to review all actions taken by the Biden administration concerning firearms in order to identify potential infringements on Second Amendment rights.
Gun safety advocates have expressed their concerns over Patel's leadership of the FBI, with the gun control group Brady labeling him a "known gun rights extremist." Meanwhile, the gun rights organization Gun Owners of America hailed Patel's confirmation as FBI director as a "major victory for gun owners and constitutional rights advocates nationwide."
The last confirmed director of the ATF was Steve Dettelbach, who held the position from July 2022 until last month. His tenure marked the first confirmed directorship since 2015, a period during which both Republican and Democratic administrations struggled to navigate the politically contentious nomination process.
This transition at the ATF and the FBI signifies a pivotal moment in U.S. law enforcement, particularly in relation to gun laws and the regulatory landscape governing firearms in the country.
