President Donald Trump’s recently confirmed FBI director, Kash Patel, is set to take on another top law enforcement role in the administration as the head of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Patel’s appointment is expected to be official next week with a swearing-in ceremony. The ATF, part of the Department of Justice, enforces federal laws related to firearms, explosives, and alcohol and tobacco products. Republican lawmakers have criticized the ATF for potentially infringing on Second Amendment rights, especially under President Joe Biden’s administration. Trump signed an executive order earlier this month to protect the rights of law-abiding gun owners and accused the ATF of unfairly targeting them. Some House Republicans have even introduced legislation to abolish the agency. The current director of the ATF, Steven Dettelback, was the first permanent leader since 2015 and was recently fired by Attorney General Pam Bondi, who accused some agency leaders of targeting gun owners without evidence. Patel, a Trump loyalist, was narrowly confirmed by the Senate to lead the FBI, with two Republican senators joining Democrats in opposing his nomination. Overall, Patel’s appointment as the head of the ATF is expected to continue the administration’s focus on protecting Second Amendment rights and reforming law enforcement agencies.
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