Congressman Dan Goldman Urges Trump to Remove Kash Patel as Acting Director of the ATF and Nominate a Qualified Candidate

 

 

Washington, DC – Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10) joined Congressman Mike Thompson (CA-04) and 78 of his colleagues from the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force in sending a letter to President Trump urging him to remove Kash Patel as Acting Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and nominate a qualified candidate to head the bureau. The ATF is the leading law enforcement agency responsible for addressing the gun violence epidemic in our country. 

 

“At a time when gun violence is the leading cause of death for children and teenagers in the United States, it is unconscionable that someone without experience fighting crime, responding to mass shootings or confronting domestic terrorism has been named as ATF’s Acting Director,” the Members wrote.  

 

During the first Trump administration gun homicides rose by 34 percent. Over the course of the Biden Administration however, gun violence rates dropped significantly as a result of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which cracked down on gun traffickers and irresponsible gun dealers, expanded background checks for 18–20-year-olds, and enabled more extreme risk protection orders, saving lives. Those commonsense laws are overwhelmingly supported by Americans, and the ATF is essential in facilitating their administration.   

 

“ATF plays a critical role in supporting State and local law enforcement by tracing guns used in crimes, helping with criminal investigations, and providing training on a variety of topics, such as detecting machinegun conversion devices,” the Members continued. 

 

The members agree that the partnership with State and local law enforcement needs to be strengthened, not undermined by weak leadership and partisan staffing purges. 

 

“Running ATF is a deadly serious job. Naming a partisan conspiracy theorist to oversee our federal gun violence prevention laws is a disservice to the American people and offensive to every American child who has grown up fearful of gun violence in their schools and communities. We urge you to name a director at ATF who will faithfully administer laws that keep Americans safe,” the Members concluded.   

 

 

 

 

Dear President Trump: 

 

As members of the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, we write to you with grave concerns about the elevation of Kash Patel to the position of Acting Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). 

 

As you are aware, ATF is the lead law enforcement agency responsible for addressing the gun violence epidemic in our country. At a time when gun violence is the leading cause of death for children and teenagers in the United States, it is unconscionable that someone without experience fighting crime, responding to mass shootings or confronting domestic terrorism has been named as ATF’s Acting Director. 

 

During your first Administration, gun homicides rose by 34 percent. Since the passage of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act in June 2022, we have seen an historic reduction in gun violence. Cracking down on gun traffickers and irresponsible gun dealers, expanding background checks for 18–20-year-olds, and expanding extreme risk protection orders is saving lives. These laws are overwhelmingly supported by Americans. 

 

ATF plays a critical role in supporting State and local law enforcement by tracing guns used in crimes, helping with criminal investigations, and providing training on a variety of topics, such as detecting machinegun conversion devices. We need to ensure that this partnership with State and local law enforcement is strengthened and not undermined by weak leadership and partisan staffing purges. 

 

Running ATF is a deadly serious job. Naming a partisan conspiracy theorist to oversee our Federal gun violence prevention laws is a disservice to the American people and offensive to every American child who has grown up fearful of gun violence in their schools and communities. We urge you to name a director at ATF who will faithfully administer laws that keep Americans safe.