Indian-origin US official Kash Patel quietly removed as acting ATF head; replaced by Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll

FBI Director Kash Patel, who briefly held the dual role of acting ATF chief, was quietly removed from the ATF post and replaced by US Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll in an unannounced Justice Department leadership shift.

His tenure at the ATF appears to have ended by late February. However, as of the afternoon of April 9, his name and photo were still visible on the agency’s website, and he was still listed in an official ATF press release dated April 7.

A Justice Department source confirmed Patel’s removal but said it was unrelated to job performance.
“Director Patel was briefly designated ATF director while awaiting Senate confirmations—a standard, short-term move,” said White House spokesman Harrison Fields.
“Director Patel is now excelling in his role at the FBI and delivering outstanding results,” Fields added.

Many were surprised by the appointment of Driscoll as acting ATF director.

Driscoll, who continues to serve in his military role, now oversees the ATF while simultaneously managing more than 450,000 soldiers globally and an Army budget of $187 billion.

The dual role is considered unusual, given the longstanding US policy of maintaining a clear divide between military operations and domestic law enforcement.

Driscoll, 38, previously served as an adviser to Vice President JD Vance and unsuccessfully ran for Congress in North Carolina in 2020.

His appointment came without a public announcement, and even senior ATF officials were not informed until this week.

Patel’s sudden appointment as ATF chief in February had already surprised many career employees.

According to current and former officials, he was rarely seen at ATF headquarters after encouraging staff to focus on targeting violent gang members.

The abrupt leadership changes have raised concerns about instability within the agency, which plays a critical role in investigating gun crimes, arson, bombings, and regulating the firearms industry.

“To see them in the situation they’re in now is just really heartbreaking,” former ATF assistant director Peter Forcelli said. “The fact they’re getting kicked around like a soccer ball is, to me, just incredibly disrespectful.”

The leadership shake-up comes amid broader discussions within the Justice Department about a possible merger between the ATF and the Drug Enforcement Administration, aimed at reducing costs and consolidating enforcement resources—a move that could reshape how federal gun and drug crimes are investigated.

Meanwhile, Attorney General Pam Bondi has launched a new task force focused on upholding the Second Amendment, which will include the ATF and the Civil Rights Division.

Bondi and US President Donald Trump have begun rolling back gun regulations introduced during the Biden administration.

Earlier this week, the ATF repealed its “zero tolerance” policy on revoking the licenses of gun dealers who commit major violations—a policy Patel had previously defended in a press release.