Raw Story: Trump appointee's disappearing act has key department at a standstill: report

[Dennis Donovan]

Raw Story - Trump appointee's disappearing act has key department at a standstill: report

Tom Boggioni
March 29, 2025 8:40AM ET

Donald Trump's decision to hand newly appointed FBI Director Kash Patel the reins as the interim head of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), has to the department being adrift with Patel reportedly ignoring his duties.

According to a report from the Washington Post, since being tasked with running the department and overseeing its 5,000 employees, Patel made a brief appearance and has since been a no-show at the headquarters leaving staffers adrift and wondering what is next.

As the Post's Perry Stein and Yvonne Wingett Sanchez wrote, "Patel arrived at ATF’s Northeast Washington headquarters, snapped photos in the lobby, met career leaders and commended their work, according to multiple people familiar with the visit. But since then, Patel has not returned, and there appears to be scant communication between the acting director and the people who work for the 5,000-person agency, said the people familiar with the situation."

The controversial Patel, who was made the new FBI director by the scantest of margins in a Senate vote, now has ATF staffers wondering about their jobs going forward.

Reporting that worries about the department has "been percolating for weeks," the Post reports adds, "Multiple people familiar with hiring process said the Trump administration has interviewed candidates to lead the agency, but the president so far has not nominated anyone. The administration hasn’t made major personnel changes at ATF during its first two months, though there have been some shake-ups."

/snip

[sop]

1. Totally unregulated alcohol, tobacco, firearms and explosives....every MAGA's wet dream.

[Mike 03]

2. The administration needs to check the local psych wards

He could have been picked up while not carrying any ID, or maybe he doesn't know who he is.

[BoRaGard]

3. As a republicon, he's probably getting off on Gourmet Golfing

That's what they do

[617Blue]

4. They're all grifters. None have an interest in serving the public. *

[travelingthrulife]

5. Kash is hiding. He hasn't a clue. Doesn't know what FBI does or how it operates.

[Autumn]

6. He may be in Russia for his orientation, Or getting shock therapy at an undisclosed facility.

[Midnight Writer]

7. Maybe he is writing another children's book about the Victory of King Trump, God's Chosen Leader.

Sometimes when inspiration hits an artist, he needs to satisfy that urge immediately.

[spanone]

8. chaos 24/7. Unqualified people in every department.

This is what you get.