Overview

• Dan Driscoll, the U.S. Army Secretary, has been appointed as the acting director of the ATF, succeeding FBI Director Kash Patel.
• Driscoll will continue serving as Army Secretary while overseeing the ATF, marking another instance of dual leadership in federal agencies.
• Kash Patel had concurrently led the FBI and ATF since February 2025 before being replaced by Driscoll on April 9, 2025.
• The leadership change occurs during Justice Department deliberations about potentially merging the ATF with the DEA to streamline operations and reduce costs.
• This transition reflects broader debates about agency independence, cost efficiency, and the influence of political appointments in federal law enforcement.