Army Secretary Dan Driscoll is set to take on temporary leadership of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) while maintaining his current position, according to five defense officials familiar with the situation. This unusual dual appointment places the 38-year-old Driscoll at the helm of two major federal agencies simultaneously.
The appointment comes at a challenging time for both organizations. The ATF continues to face intense partisan scrutiny over firearms regulation issues, while the Army is undergoing a strategic shift to counter China’s growing military influence in the Pacific region.
Driscoll, currently in Europe meeting with soldiers and Army leadership, will be taking on two demanding full-time roles. As acting ATF director, he will oversee approximately 8,000 employees, including more than 2,500 federal agents responsible for enforcing firearms laws, despite having no background in law enforcement.
The ATF has been a frequent target of pro-gun activists and Republican lawmakers in recent years. The GOP has made efforts to reduce the agency’s authority, particularly regarding gun background checks, and has sometimes called for its complete dismantling. In 2024, Republicans in Congress cut $47 million from the ATF’s $1.6 billion budget.
Driscoll will replace FBI Director Kash Patel, who was removed from his secondary role leading the ATF for unclear reasons, though he continues to head the FBI as of Wednesday.
Leadership stability has been a challenge for the ATF. Since Congress made the director position subject to Senate confirmation in 2006, only two nominees have successfully completed the politically contentious confirmation process: Todd Jones in 2013 and Steve Dettelbach in 2022.
As Army Secretary, Driscoll currently oversees a $185.9 billion budget and nearly one million soldiers across active-duty and reserve components. The Army is shifting from Global War on Terrorism operations to modernizing its equipment and doctrine to deter China.
“The world is changing rapidly, and we must ensure the Army is prepared to operate in new, complex and contested environments,” Driscoll stated during his January confirmation hearing.
Driscoll, a close friend of Vice President JD Vance since their time together at Yale Law School, has spent most of his career in venture capital and business. His national security experience is notably lighter than his predecessors, with military service as a cavalry officer in the 10th Mountain Division from 2007 to 2010, including one deployment to Iraq before leaving as a first lieutenant to attend Yale.
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