The First Senate Confirmation of ATF Director in Over Seven Years

The Senate confirmed Steven Dettelbach, a former U.S. Attorney in Ohio, as Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) this week, ending the agency's seven years without a confirmed director. Dettelbach was confirmed in a 48-to-46 vote across party lines and was sworn in on Wednesday by Attorney General (AG) Merrick Garland.

“Every day, ATF’s agents, investigators, and professional staff work tirelessly to protect our communities from violent crime and the devastation caused by gun violence. They provide support, training, and expertise to law enforcement agencies nationwide, conduct life-saving research and analysis, work to ensure that our regulations keep pace with the ever-changing technology of firearms, and disrupt illegal gun trafficking networks,” stated AG Garland. “For the second time in history, the United States Senate has voted to give ATF long-overdue Senate-confirmed leadership. As a career prosecutor and the former U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, Steve understands the importance and urgency of ATF’s mission, and I am confident he will lead ATF with integrity, dedication, and skill.”

When President Joe Biden nominated him earlier this year, Dettelbach pledged to address the “epidemic of firearms violence” in the United States. Dettelbach pledged in his confirmation hearings to uphold the law free of political interference as the bureau's director.

“Politics can play no role in law enforcement. None at all,” stated Dettelbach. “I have lived that credo and I vow to continue to do it because people need to have confidence that people in law enforcement's only agenda is to enforce the law—and if you're at the ATF to catch the bad guys and protect the public.”

The Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA) was among stakeholders who supported Dettelbach's nomination. In a letter earlier this year, FLEOA National President Larry Cosme noted that no agency should operate without Senate-confirmed leadership for seven years and encouraged collaboration with Dettelbach.

“A careful review of Mr. Dettelbach’s professional work history reveals a remarkable career dedicated toward advancement of a shared American value: equal justice under the law. Mr. Dettelbach is an experienced leader and litigator who has devoted his entire career to public safety initiatives and civil rights work,” Cosme noted.

Dettelbach immediately got to work, taking a tour of ATF headquarters with Deputy Director Marvin Richardson. The leaders will have much to do, according to former ATF Director B. Todd Jones, including reviving a bureau struggling to cope after years of strain, regulation of the firearms industry, technological limitations, persistent funding constraints, and a staff shortage.

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