Three U.S. officials confirmed to USA TODAY that Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll has been appointed as the acting director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), while still maintaining his role as Army Secretary. The Justice Department confirmed the leadership change but did not provide an explanation for the replacement of Kash Patel, who had held the position since February.
The appointment of Driscoll comes amid discussions within the government about the possibility of merging ATF with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) as part of a cost-cutting initiative. Although Driscoll has a strong military and legal background, he does not have direct federal law enforcement experience. Prior to his confirmation as Army Secretary on February 25, Driscoll served as the leader of a cavalry unit in Iraq and later earned a law degree from Yale.
Patel, a loyal ally of former President Donald Trump, recently took on the role of FBI Director. During his brief tenure at the FBI, he oversaw a surge in new agent applications, with over 10,000 submitted since January and 5,577 in March alone, the highest number in years. FBI officials have praised Patel and Deputy Director Dan Bongino for restoring trust and improving morale, with a spokesperson noting, “The new FBI is heading in the right direction.”
As of Wednesday afternoon, Patel remains listed as ATF’s interim director, though his future in the role remains uncertain.
