Kash Patel has been removed from his short-lived role as acting director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and replaced by U.S. Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll, U.S. officials confirmed Wednesday.
According to reports, the leadership change took place in February, just days after Patel was sworn into the position on February 24. Patel continues to serve as FBI Director, a role he assumed earlier the same week.
The reason for Patel’s replacement by Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll to head the Justice Department agency responsible for enforcing the nation’s gun laws is not immediately clear. But according to a report by The Daily Beast, he was removed after he had stopped showing up to ATF facilities for weeks.
Despite Patel’s removal, his photo and title remained on the ATF website as of Wednesday, and he was still listed as acting director in a department press release dated April 7. A March social media post from Patel included a message labeled “special message from the acting director.
According to reports, senior ATF officials were notified of the leadership change only on Wednesday. NBC News reported that those who learned of the change were shocked and confused.
According to one official, Patel’s departure had “nothing to do with job performance,” though no explanation was given for the abrupt replacement.
A White House spokesperson, Harrison Fields, said Patel was briefly designated as ATF director while awaiting Senate confirmations, adding that this is a “standard, short-term move.”
“Director Patel is now excelling in his role at the FBI and delivering outstanding results,” Fields said in a statement.
Driscoll, 38, will remain Army Secretary while taking on the additional responsibilities of leading the ATF.
The leadership shuffle comes as the Justice Department weighs a proposal to merge the ATF and the Drug Enforcement Administration to streamline operations. The agencies frequently collaborate but have separate mandates — the ATF focuses on gun crimes, explosives, and arson, while the DEA leads efforts against illegal drug trafficking.
