President Donald Trump will appoint FBI Director Kash Patel as acting ATF director early next week, multiple sources confirm. This move follows Attorney General Pam Bondi’s abrupt termination of ATF General Counsel Pamela Hicks last week. Bondi accused Hicks of “targeting gun owners” during a Fox News interview, setting the stage for a leadership overhaul at the firearms regulatory agency.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms faces mounting Republican scrutiny over claims of overreach into Second Amendment rights.
“We cannot tolerate federal agencies antagonizing lawful gun owners,”Bondi stated last Friday. Patel, confirmed as FBI director in January 2025, now takes the reins of an agency responsible for:
- Regulating firearm sales nationwide
- Investigating illegal arms trafficking
- Enforcing federal explosives laws
Trump’s latest executive order directs Bondi to review federal actions impacting gun rights and propose reforms within 30 days. Meanwhile, the Justice Department has redirected ATF resources toward immigration enforcement operations led by transnational crime task forces. Critics argue this pivot risks undermining core ATF functions like combatting gun violence.
Patel’s dual role as FBI director and acting ATF chief creates unprecedented consolidation of federal law enforcement authority. His 2025 Senate confirmation hearing highlighted bipartisan concerns about politicization of investigative agencies. Legal experts warn the leadership shakeup could accelerate challenges to ATF regulatory powers currently before federal courts.