Kash Patel, appointed by President Donald Trump as both FBI Director and interim head of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), has reportedly been absent from his ATF leadership role since a brief introductory visit in February, according to multiple sources familiar with the situation.
After his appointment, Patel made an initial stop at ATF headquarters in Washington, DC, posing for photos and meeting with career officials. However, he has not returned since, nor has he maintained regular communication with the agency's 5,000 employees, sources told The Washington Post. In Patel's absence, longtime ATF official Marvin G. Richardson has been informally overseeing day-to-day operations.
