President Donald Trump has recently confirmed his FBI director, Kash Patel, for another significant role within his administration. According to a White House official and two sources familiar with the plan, Patel is expected to be appointed as the head of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
The appointment of Patel could become official as early as next week, with a swearing-in ceremony planned to mark his new role. The ATF, a crucial law enforcement agency within the Department of Justice, is tasked with enforcing federal laws related to the illegal use, sale, and trafficking of firearms and explosives, along with the illegal diversion of alcohol and tobacco products.
The ATF has frequently been a target for Republican lawmakers who argue that the agency infringes on the Second Amendment. This viewpoint was particularly emphasized during former President Joe Biden's tenure, as the agency was empowered to regulate the sale of ghost guns and close loopholes in the firearm purchasing process.
Earlier this month, Trump signed an executive order to "halt existing policies designed to curtail the clear right of law-abiding citizens to keep and bear arms." A White House statement accompanying the order accused the ATF of unfairly targeting gun owners and claimed that the Biden Administration sought to eliminate Second Amendment rights through the agency's actions.
In January, Representatives Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) and Eric Burlison (R-Mo.) led a group of House Republicans in introducing legislation to abolish the agency entirely. Boebert stated, "I cannot imagine under any circumstance or administration where the ATF serves as an ally to the Second Amendment and law-abiding firearm owners across America."
During Biden's presidency, Steven Dettelback became the first permanent director of the ATF since 2015, following unsuccessful attempts by prior administrations to confirm a nominee in the Senate. Additionally, Attorney General Pam Bondi recently fired the chief counsel of the ATF, Pamela Hicks, after three years of service. Bondi alleged, without evidence, that Hicks was part of efforts to weaponize the agency against gun owners.
"These people were targeting gun owners. Not gonna happen under this administration," Bondi stated in an interview with Fox News.
