In a surprising shakeup at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll has stepped in as the agency’s acting director, replacing Kash Patel, according to confirmation from three U.S. officials speaking to USA TODAY.
Driscoll will maintain his position as Secretary of the Army while also leading the ATF, two Defense Department sources said. A spokesperson for the Justice Department confirmed the leadership change but declined to offer any details about the reasons behind Patel’s replacement.
Patel, a prominent ally of former President Donald Trump, had only recently been sworn in as acting ATF director in late February, shortly after taking the helm of the FBI. His appointment was initially reported by Reuters.
As of Wednesday afternoon, Patel’s profile and title still appeared on the official ATF website, and no departure date has been publicly disclosed.
The abrupt change in leadership comes amid internal Justice Department discussions about potentially merging the ATF with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) as part of a cost-cutting initiative.
Driscoll, who was officially sworn in as Army Secretary on February 25 following Senate confirmation, is a combat veteran and Yale Law School graduate. His Army biography notes his command of a cavalry unit deployed to Baghdad in 2009. While his résumé includes experience in private equity and corporate operations, it does not reflect any prior work in federal law enforcement.
Despite his short tenure at ATF, Patel’s impact on the FBI appears to have been significant. Since his appointment as FBI director, the bureau has seen a sharp rise in job applications for new agents.
FBI data analyzed by Fox News Digital revealed that 5,577 applications were submitted in March — the highest number in a single month since April 2016, when 5,283 applications were recorded. By comparison, the average monthly number of applicants in 2023 was 2,797, rising to 3,383 in 2024 prior to Patel’s appointment.
FBI spokesperson Ben Williamson credited Patel and Deputy Director Dan Bongino for prioritizing recruitment and restoring public trust in the agency. “These record early returns certainly suggest the new FBI is heading in the right direction,” Williamson told Fox News.
Since January, the bureau has received over 10,000 applications, with 4,143 submitted in the first month of the Trump administration — coinciding with Patel’s nomination.
Patel advisor Erica Knight said the spike in interest highlights public support for Patel’s leadership style. “Kash is committed to building a more powerful and trustworthy FBI that serves the American people as it was always intended to,” Knight told Fox News Digital.
During his Senate confirmation hearing, Patel cited polling showing that just 40% of Americans viewed the FBI favorably, describing the agency’s reputational decline as a direct threat to its mission. “This has to change,” he stated. “The bureau’s ability to solve crimes depends on public cooperation.”
Patel and Bongino have made a concerted effort to rebuild morale and attract fresh talent, encouraging what they call a return to core law enforcement principles. A March FBI recruitment video showcased Patel visiting agents in the field, ending with the slogan: “A renewed mission. A stronger future.” The message: Apply today at FBIJobs.gov.
