Kashyap (Kash) Patel has been named to simultaneously head the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (commonly known as the ATF). He was sworn in as acting director of the ATF on Monday afternoon.
Patel, who turned 45 on Tuesday, had been officially sworn in to head the FBI on Friday, which he called the “greatest honor” of his life. The son of Indian Gujarati immigrants – the first Indian American and Hindu American to lead the FBI – he previously served as a National Security Council official and was chief of staff to the Acting Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller and senior advisor to the acting director of national intelligence during the first Trump administration.
According to his official biography on the DoD, in his capacity working for Miller, “Patel oversaw the execution of several of President Donald J. Trump’s top priorities, including eliminating ISIS and Al-Qa’ida leadership such as al-Baghdadi and Qasem al-Rimi, and the safe repatriation of numerous American hostages.”
As the principal deputy to the acting director of national intelligence, Patel helped oversee the operations of all 17 intelligence community (IC) agencies and provided the President’s Daily Briefing.
Education and Early Career
Born to immigrants, the New York native completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Richmond before returning to New York to earn his law degree, along with a Certificate in International Law from University College London Faculty of Laws in the United Kingdom.
Patel’s legal career began as a public defender in Florida with Miami-Dade County, and later as a federal public defender. He was hired as a trial attorney by the United States Department of Justice (DoJ) National Security Division in 2014 and was appointed senior counsel on counterterrorism for the House Intelligence Committee.
In November, Patel was named to replace Christopher Wray, who was selected during Trump’s first administration, replacing James Comey. While FBI directors are typically given 10-year terms to insulate them from political influence, Comey was fired after spending just three years on the job. Wray also resigned at the end of the Biden Administration.
Confirmed to Head the FBI
A staunch supporter of President Donald Trump, Patel was the latest appointee to be confirmed on a party-line vote of 51 to 49, with two Republicans joining all Democrats voting against him. GOP Senators Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska both broke with party ranks and voted against Patel.
Democratic lawmakers had expressed concerns over Patel’s qualifications and that he could pursue retribution against critics of the administration. Patel had previously called for limiting the authority of the FBI, arguing that it had unfairly targeted conservatives, but during the confirmation hearings said he would follow the constitution of the United States and had no interest in any retribution, but called for greater emphasis in fighting crime rather than in intelligence-gathering.
“Anyone that wishes to do harm to our way of life and our citizens, here and abroad, will face the full wrath of the DOJ and FBI,” Patel said last week. “If you seek to hide in any corner of this country or planet, we will put on the world’s largest manhunt and we will find you and we will decide your end-state.”
Heading the ATF as well as the FBI
The ATF is a law enforcement agency housed within the DOJ, and it is responsible for enforcing federal laws related to firearms and explosives, as well as tobacco and alcohol. It partners with communities, industries, law enforcement, and public safety agencies.
As head of the FBI, Patel will oversee around 38,000 employees, including around 13,700 special agents, as well as intelligence analysts, language specialists, scientists and information technology specialists; and administrative, technical, and clerical staff. The ATF has an additional 5,500 employees.
According to multiple reports, it is unclear if a permanent head will be named to head the latter agency, or what the White House’s long-term plans are for the ATF. Supporters of the Second Amendment were quick to praise Patel, who spoke at a gun rights conference last year, while gun control advocates have voiced their concern over his nomination as FBI director.
