U.S. Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll has assumed the role of interim director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) while continuing his duties as Army secretary, according to multiple U.S. officials. The Justice Department confirmed he replaced Kash Patel, though it offered no explanation for the sudden personnel shift, and Patel still appeared on the ATF website as of Wednesday afternoon. The leadership change comes as senior Justice Department officials weigh a potential merger of the ATF with the Drug Enforcement Administration to reduce costs. Driscoll, a former Army commander with a background in law and finance, has no documented federal law-enforcement experience.
Meanwhile, the FBI, under Patel’s leadership since late February, has seen a surge in interest from prospective agents. In March, the bureau received 5,577 applications, the highest monthly total since 2016 and far above the 2023–2024 monthly averages. Officials attribute the spike to Patel and Deputy Director Dan Bongino’s push to restore trust in federal law enforcement, improve morale, and aggressively recruit. FBI spokespersons and Patel advisers say the numbers reflect renewed public confidence in the bureau.
During his confirmation hearing, Patel warned of declining public trust, noting that only 40% of Americans held a favorable view of the FBI. Since then, he has emphasized rebuilding credibility through transparency, stronger recruitment, and outreach efforts. His March recruitment video, featuring field operations and the bureau’s hostage rescue team, urged Americans to join “a renewed mission” and help strengthen the FBI for the future.