President Donald Trump has decided to appoint newly confirmed FBI Director Kash Patel as the acting head of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), according to a source familiar with the matter who spoke to Reuters on February 22.
A staunch Trump ally, Patel will now lead the FBI, the nation’s top law enforcement agency, during a period of increasing instability, while simultaneously heading the ATF, which is responsible for enforcing U.S. gun laws.
Despite strong opposition from Democrats and two moderate Republicans, Patel secured enough support from the Republican majority to be confirmed as FBI director. Critics had voiced concerns over his previous statements advocating retribution against Trump’s detractors, arguing that such a stance rendered him unfit to oversee the FBI. However, these objections failed to prevent his confirmation.
Patel, who has been endorsed by the pro-gun rights organization Gun Owners of America, is expected to implement significant changes at the ATF, likely shifting its mission away from firearm regulation.
During his presidential campaign, Trump had frequently criticized the ATF, accusing it of being overly aggressive toward gun owners and arbitrarily revoking licenses.
Just days before Patel’s appointment, Attorney General Pam Bondi took decisive action by firing Pamela Hicks, the ATF’s longtime chief counsel, on February 20. According to a source familiar with the situation, Hicks was abruptly dismissed without any prior notice or explanation and was escorted out of the building by security.
Explaining the decision in an interview with Fox News, Bondi stated, “These people were targeting gun owners.”
Bondi has since directed the ATF to prioritize assisting the Department of Justice in addressing illegal immigration rather than its traditional responsibilities of regulating firearms, tobacco, and alcohol.
Patel is not the only Trump administration official taking on dual roles. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is also serving as the acting administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), an agency Trump has proposed dismantling and merging into the State Department.
Similarly, Russ Vought, the director of the Office of Management and Budget, has been appointed as the acting head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, another agency the administration seeks to eliminate.
Additionally, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and Energy Secretary Chris Wright have been named co-chairs of Trump’s newly established National Energy Dominance Council.