(NewsNation) — The future of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives could be in limbo as the Trump administration looks to tap FBI Director Kash Patel as its chief.
A Department of Justice official said Patel could be sworn in as early as this week to lead ATF.
The move has raised concerns the bureau is next on the Department of Government Efficiency’s chopping block.
ATF has been controversial among gun rights advocates for years.
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While supporters point to ATF’s success in reducing violent crime, including through tools such as the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network, critics say the agency unfairly targets lawful gun owners and infringes on Second Amendment rights. Some Republican lawmakers have drafted legislation to abolish it.
The Senate confirmed Patel as director of the FBI on Thursday, and he is expected to serve as acting director of the ATF. Taking the helm in a dual role is unique and signals the Trump administration may want tighter control.
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi already fired ATF’s general counsel, accusing the agency of “targeting gun owners,” and Republicans slashed the ATF’s budget during the last administration.
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While no formal plan to shut down the agency has been announced, the administration has made swift moves in other agencies, including the FBI and USAID.
Given his narrow confirmation and concerns over experience, Patel’s appointment could mean more shake-ups are in store.
