US Election 2024

Army Secretary Dan Driscoll to lead ATF, replacing FBI Director Kash Patel

April 9, 2025
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U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll has been appointed as the acting director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), taking over from FBI Director Kash Patel. Driscoll, who was notified of his appointment while traveling in Europe, will continue to serve as the Army secretary while overseeing the ATF.

The decision to appoint Driscoll came after Patel expressed his desire to focus solely on his role as the FBI director. A source close to Patel revealed that the ATF was never meant to be a long-term responsibility for him.

Driscoll, a North Carolina native, is an Army veteran and venture capitalist who was chosen by President Trump to serve as the secretary of the Army. He has also served as a senior advisor to Vice President JD Vance. Driscoll’s military experience includes fighting with the 10th Mountain Division as a cavalry scout platoon leader in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Patel, on the other hand, was sworn in as the acting chief of the ATF shortly after taking the oath to lead the FBI. His confirmation process was marked by controversy, with Democrats raising concerns about his lack of management experience.

President Trump’s plans for the ATF remain unclear, but the agency has been a target for congressional Republicans for some time. The ATF is responsible for enforcing laws related to firearms, explosives, and arson, as well as licensing federal firearms dealers, tracing guns used in crimes, and analyzing intelligence in shooting investigations.

It is important to note that this article contains contributions from Fox News Digital’s reporters Morgan Phillips and Louis Casiano. For more breaking news and updates, readers can follow Greg Wehner, a breaking news reporter for Fox News Digital, on Twitter @GregWehner or reach out via email at Greg.Wehner@Fox.com.

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April 9, 2025
0 0 1 minute read

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