Trump Admin Swaps Acting ATF Directors, Nobody Can Say When it Happened

FBI Director Kash Patel is not in command of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), however the Trump Administration gained’t say when that change occurred.

On Wednesday, the ATF confirmed to The Reload that Patel had left the appearing director position and President Donald Trump had changed him with Military Secretary Daniel Driscoll. Nevertheless, it couldn’t say when the transfer was formally made, and neither might the Division of Justice (DOJ).

“To my understanding, the timeline was established by the White Home so ATF can’t present a remark,” Hadiza Buge, an ATF spokesperson, informed The Reload.

Buge handed alongside an announcement from White Home spokesperson Harrison Fields as properly.

“Director Kash Patel was briefly designated ATF Director whereas awaiting Senate confirmations—a typical, short-term transfer,” Fields mentioned. “Dozens of comparable re-designations have occurred throughout the federal authorities. Director Patel is now excelling in his position on the FBI and delivering excellent outcomes.”

Nevertheless, the White Home didn’t reply to a request for particulars in regards to the timeline.

It’s unclear why the administration gained’t reveal the precise dates for when the swap occurred. Transferring from one Senate-confirmed Trump appointee to a different is unlikely to alter the coverage objectives of the ATF within the quick time period. Driscoll, already serving because the Secretary of the Military, can be not prone to have extra free time to dedicate to working the ATF than Patel did as FBI Director.

Whereas the White Home didn’t give a cause for the shuffle, a number of reviews point out Patel was not often, if ever, actively concerned with overseeing day-to-day operations on the ATF throughout his quick tenure. NBC Information’s Ken Dilanian reported he had “not been seen inside an ATF facility for weeks.” The Washington Put up has equally claimed Patel hadn’t been again to ATF headquarters since he was sworn in again in late February.

Quite a few ATF officers and out of doors stakeholders who spoke to The Reload informed the same story.

“He didn’t talk with anyone,” one agent, who requested to not be named as a result of they had been involved about reprisals, mentioned. “I don’t assume he spoke to a single individual from ATF all the time, nonetheless a lot time that really was.”

NBC’s Dilanian additional claimed Patel was solely ATF appearing director “for a really quick time, maybe only a day.” When requested about that declare, the ATF referred The Reload to the DOJ, which referred us to the White Home, which didn’t reply. Nevertheless, the ATF has been issuing press releases with quotes from Patel recognized because the appearing director till this week that indicate he was concerned in high-level selections.

“Immediately’s repeal of the Zero Tolerance Coverage and the excellent evaluation of stabilizing brace rules and the definition of ‘engaged within the enterprise’ marks a pivotal step towards restoring equity and readability in firearms regulation,” Patel was quoted as saying in Monday’s announcement of latest ATF actions. “We’re dedicated to working with all stakeholders to make sure our insurance policies are balanced, constitutional and protecting of Individuals’ Second Modification rights.”

Patel was additionally listed because the appearing director on the ATF’s web site by means of Wednesday, although his biography was by no means up to date. Driscoll changed him on the web site Thursday, but additionally has no biography listed nor even an image.

The ATF agent who spoke with The Reload mentioned there hasn’t been any inner communication from Driscoll but, they usually aren’t positive when the changeover occurred both.

“I don’t know. I simply observe the information,” the agent mentioned. “I imply, that’s the place I hear most issues as of late.”

That’s additionally how the agent came upon Deputy Director Marvin G. Richardson left his position on Thursday. Reuters and USA Immediately broke the information that the administration informed the 35-year-veteran he might both resign or be fired. Richardson, who had a number of stints atop the company, has been criticized by each gun-rights and gun-control activists over time for both being too keen to impose constitutionally-questionable new gun restrictions or being too cozy with the gun trade, relying on which aspect you hearken to.

He was handed over for the everlasting director position and demoted below President Joe Biden, which prompted outrage from some brokers. Regardless of that, he stayed on as deputy director and was the top-ranking official earlier than Patel took over.

Patel confronted criticism for his feedback promising retribution towards President Trump’s opponents. Nevertheless, he garnered sturdy help from gun-rights activists who hoped he would take away Biden-era ATF guidelines and the officers who’d applied them–one thing that has at the very least partially occurred, even when it’s unclear how a lot of a task Patel had in it. He was broadly seen as a pro-gun ally, largely as a result of he’d spoken at a Gun House owners of America (GOA) convention in 2024.

Driscoll, a military veteran with a Yale Legislation diploma, who was a staffer for the Senate Veterans Affairs committee, doesn’t seem to have comparable credentials on gun coverage. Nonetheless, the gun-rights teams–who all credited Patel with the ATF’s most up-to-date actions–applauded Driscoll’s appointment.

“President Trump’s resolution to nominate Appearing Director Driscoll is indicative of his resolve to deliver reform to the ATF and shield the Second Modification rights of law-abiding residents and the trade that makes it potential to train these rights,” Larry Keane, common counsel of the Nationwide Capturing Sports activities Basis, mentioned in an announcement.

“President Trump’s resolution to nominate Appearing Director Driscoll is indicative of his resolve to guard Second Modification rights and produce a lot wanted reform to the ATF,” Alan Gottlieb, chairman of the Residents Committee for the Proper to Maintain and Bear Arms, mentioned in an announcement. “Mr. Patel has his palms full heading the FBI, and we’re delighted to see the president take the extra load off his shoulders and on the similar time put one other well-qualified particular person into that place.”

The gun-control teams had been comparatively mum on the swap, with simply Giffords commenting on it. The group complained in regards to the quantity of turnover on the regulation enforcement company.

“Appearing Director Dan Driscoll is the ATF’s fourth chief this 12 months, and he already has an vital full-time job working the U.S. Military,” it mentioned in an announcement. “Stopping violent crime at ATF requires arduous work and dedication—it’s not a part-time job. This administration must get critical about stopping gun crime. Lives are at stake,”

The ATF agent mentioned the affect on the company’s day-to-day operations has been minimal.

“The sphere nonetheless has discipline operations and managers, and issues undergo,” they informed The Reload. “Sure selections that wanted to be made by the appearing director, you couldn’t get it. That’s the place it obtained form of powerful.”

They mentioned the larger concern was an absence of communication in regards to the company’s course, which is harming morale.

“I imply, it’s not loopy. It’s simply extra like a morale concern of not understanding,” the agent mentioned. “There’s a brand new article about us merging, and now we’ve a brand new director. I used to be like, ‘What the hell?’ It’s simply the uncertainty, not understanding who your chief is or the imaginative and prescient or the longer term, every thing that you just want for folks to be handiest at their jobs.”

The agent mentioned the impression contained in the company is that the Trump Administration doesn’t know what it needs to do with the ATF.

“It doesn’t look like there’s some grand plan,” they mentioned. “I’m positive there are individuals who need to do away with the ATF, however they’ll’t do it as a result of they’re not going to have the votes in Congress. So, they’re kicking the can down the highway. That’s what it seems like. I believe it’s very low precedence for them.”