FBI Director Kash Patel has been removed from his position as the acting head of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), according to sources cited by Reuters. Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll has replaced him. This leadership change comes as broader discussions about roles within the Justice Department continue. Patel had only recently taken on the ATF role on February 24, just three days after being appointed FBI Director, which made his dual role quite unusual. A Justice Department official confirmed his removal but clarified it wasn't related to his performance. However, no detailed explanation was given for the decision.

Even after his removal, Patel was still shown as the acting director on the ATF's official website as of Wednesday afternoon, and his name also appeared in a press release dated April 7. In March, he shared a message with ATF staff, referring to it as a "special message from the acting director." According to a source who spoke to the Associated Press, senior officials at the ATF only became aware of the leadership change on Wednesday. Commenting on the situation, White House spokesperson Harrison Fields said Patel’s position at the ATF was always meant to be temporary while waiting for Senate confirmations. "Director Patel is now excelling at the FBI and delivering outstanding results," Fields said.

At 38, Driscoll serves as the Army Secretary, leading the largest branch of the U.S. military, which includes around 452,000 soldiers stationed at home and abroad. He manages numerous major programs involving weapons, aircraft, and equipment worth billions and oversees an Army budget that exceeds $187 billion.

Originally from North Carolina, Driscoll worked as an adviser to Vice President JD Vance, whom he got to know during their time together at Yale Law School. He served in the Army for under four years and left with the rank of first lieutenant. In 2020, he entered the Republican primary for a congressional seat in North Carolina but didn’t make much headway, securing only around 8% of the vote in a competitive field.