Justice Department

Kash Patel Tapped to Lead ATF After Being Sworn in as FBI Director

Published

February 22, 2025

Just a day after being sworn in as the ninth FBI director, Kash Patel is set to take on another key role within the Department of Justice. According to Fox News, Patel will be tapped to run the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), marking a significant shake-up in federal law enforcement leadership.

His appointment follows the resignation of former FBI Director Christopher Wray at the conclusion of President Joe Biden’s term and the recent firing of ATF General Counsel Pamela Hicks by Attorney General Pam Bondi.

“These people were targeting gun owners,” Bondi told Fox News regarding ATF’s previous leadership. “Not gonna happen under this administration.”

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Hicks, who had been ATF’s chief counsel since 2021, confirmed her termination on LinkedIn, describing the role as “the highest honor of my career” and expressing gratitude for her colleagues in the Department of Justice.

With both the FBI and ATF under Patel’s leadership, the move signals a decisive shift in federal law enforcement policy under the new administration.