Kash Patel Set to Run a 2nd Major Agency, Gun Owners Rejoice [WATCH]

Kash Patel, who was sworn in as the nation’s ninth FBI director just days ago, is now expected to take on a second major role in the federal government.

Reports on Saturday indicate that Patel will be nominated to lead the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), according to two sources who spoke with Fox News Digital.

#BREAKING: President Trump is expected to appoint Kash Patel to Acting Director of the ATF in addition to his role as FBI Director, per ABC

The ATF’s days are NUMBERED pic.twitter.com/DVlfb6ltY4

— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) February 22, 2025

Dennis Quaid’s #1 Warning for Americans

Patel was officially sworn in as FBI director on Friday following a narrow Senate confirmation vote.

His appointment comes after former FBI Director Christopher Wray resigned at the conclusion of Joe Biden’s term.

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Now, Patel appears set to oversee both the FBI and ATF, two agencies housed within the Department of Justice.

The move to install Patel as ATF director follows a shake-up at the agency earlier in the week.

Attorney General Pam Bondi removed ATF Chief Counsel Pamela Hicks from her position on Thursday.

“Earlier today, I was served official notice from the Attorney General of the United States that I was being removed from my position as the Chief Counsel of ATF and my employment with the Department of Justice terminated,” Hicks confirmed in a post on her LinkedIn page.

Bondi addressed the decision in an interview with Fox News, making it clear that the agency’s previous leadership had been targeting gun owners.

“These people were targeting gun owners,” Bondi said. “Not gonna happen under this administration.”

The ATF has faced significant criticism from pro-Second Amendment groups and Republican lawmakers who argue that the agency has prioritized gun control policies over enforcing existing laws.

Under the Biden-Harris administration, the ATF expanded regulations on so-called “ghost guns” and took measures to close firearm purchase loopholes.

Earlier this month, President Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at reversing Biden-era gun policies.

The order, according to a White House statement, was issued to “halt existing policies designed to curtail the clear right of law-abiding citizens to keep and bear arms.”

The statement specifically called out the ATF for what it described as unfair targeting of legal gun owners.

The ATF is responsible for enforcing federal laws related to firearms, explosives, alcohol, and tobacco.

The agency plays a key role in investigating firearms trafficking and illegal weapons sales, but gun rights advocates argue that its regulatory efforts often go beyond its intended scope.

With Patel likely to take the helm of both the FBI and ATF, the Department of Justice is expected to undergo further restructuring.

“The counter mandate that we have is the force of the Founding Fathers in the 2nd Amendment.”

“That is more powerful than any regulation these entities can come up with. But if you let ATF continue to chip away, they will completely take it away FOREVER.”

– @Kash_Patel https://t.co/TijQnt0qqQ pic.twitter.com/eOENpAmrR6

— Gun Owners of America (@GunOwners) February 23, 2025

Patel, a former national security official, has been a strong advocate for reform within federal law enforcement agencies.

His leadership at the FBI is already being closely watched, and his potential oversight of the ATF signals a significant shift in the agency’s approach to gun regulations.

The nomination process for Patel’s ATF appointment has yet to be formally announced.

However, if confirmed, he would be tasked with leading two of the country’s most powerful federal law enforcement agencies at the same time.

As Patel prepares to step into his expanded role, the changes at the DOJ are welcomed by Second Amendment supporters who have long called for a shift in the ATF’s priorities.

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