Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll Named Acting ATF Head, Replacing Kash Patel U.S. Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll has been appointed acting director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) while retaining his Army role, according to U.S. officials. The Justice Department confirmed the leadership change but gave no explanation. Kash Patel, a staunch Trump ally, was sworn in as acting ATF director in late February shortly after becoming FBI Director. His picture and title remained on the ATF website as of Wednesday, suggesting uncertainty about the transition. Sources suggest the sudden move may relate to Justice Department plans to merge the ATF and DEA to cut costs. Driscoll, a Yale-educated Army veteran, has no prior experience in federal law enforcement, according to his official bio. Meanwhile, under Patel’s FBI leadership, agent recruitment has surged. The FBI received over 10,000 applications for new agents in just the first few months of 2025—more than double 2023’s monthly average. FBI officials and Patel’s team credit the spike to renewed public trust and recruitment efforts. A March video campaign titled “A Renewed Mission” promoted FBI careers and emphasized Patel’s goal of restoring the bureau’s integrity
