FBI Director Kash Patel is expected to be named acting head of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), placing him in charge of two of the Justice Department’s largest agencies, a DOJ official said Saturday.
Patel, a staunch Trump ally, was sworn in as FBI director Friday after winning Senate approval despite Democratic opposition. His expected appointment to lead ATF—responsible for enforcing firearms laws—raises concerns over the agency’s future, as conservatives have long pushed to weaken or abolish it.
The move follows Attorney General Pam Bondi’s firing of ATF chief counsel Pamela Hicks, whom she accused of “targeting gun owners.” Trump has already ordered a review of Biden-era gun regulations, signaling further rollbacks on firearm restrictions.
Gun safety groups criticized Patel’s expanded role, while gun rights advocates hailed it as a victory. ATF has lacked a confirmed director since January, leaving it vulnerable to major shifts in leadership and policy under the Trump administration.
Sources
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