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FBI Director Kash Patel has been removed as acting ATF chief and replaced by Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll. The Justice Department says the move wasn't performance-related, but no reason was given.
Patel was sworn in as acting ATF leader on February 24.(Photo: AP)
UPDATED: Apr 10, 2025 03:51 IST
FBI Director Kash Patel has been removed from his role as the acting chief of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). He has been replaced by Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll. The change comes amidst ongoing discussions about leadership within the Justice Department.
Patel was sworn in as acting ATF leader on February 24, three days after he was sworn in as FBI director. It was unusual for one person to be tapped to lead two major Justice Department units at the same time. A Justice Department official confirmed Patel's removal and said it had nothing to do with his job performance. However, no reason was provided for the move.
Despite his removal, Patel remained listed as acting director on the ATF’s website as of Wednesday afternoon and was still mentioned in an April 7 press release. In March, he had posted a note addressed to ATF staff, calling it a “special message from the acting director.” Senior ATF officials reportedly only learned of the leadership change on Wednesday, according to a source familiar with the matter.
White House spokesperson Harrison Fields said Patel’s ATF leadership was a temporary designation while awaiting Senate confirmations. “Director Patel is now excelling in his role at the FBI and delivering outstanding results,” Fields said.
WHO IS DANIEL DRISCOLL?
As Army secretary, Driscoll, 38, heads the US military’s largest service, which has about 452,000 soldiers, including thousands who are deployed all over the world. He also oversees dozens of major weapons, aircraft, and equipment programs worth billions of dollars and is responsible for an Army budget of more than $187 billion.
A native of North Carolina, Driscoll served as an adviser to Vice President JD Vance, whom he met when both were attending Yale Law School. He served in the Army for less than four years and left at the rank of first lieutenant.
In 2020, he ran unsuccessfully in the Republican primary for a North Carolina congressional seat, receiving about 8% of the vote in a crowded race.
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Published By:
Satyam Singh
Published On:
Apr 10, 2025
