Patel will lead an agency which has been the target of Republicans on many occasions, and even a campaign to abolish it.

According to two sources and a White House official familiar with the plans, Kash Patel, the newly confirmed FBI director of President Donald Trump, will take on a second top law enforcement position in the administration, as the head of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Sources said that Patel’s nomination could become official as early as next week, with an oath of office.

The ATF is a federal law enforcement agency that falls under the Department of Justice. It enforces federal laws pertaining to the illegal sale, use and trafficking of explosives and firearms as well as illegal diversion of tobacco and alcohol products.

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The agency has been the target of Republican legislators who believe it violates the Second Amendment. Former President Joe Biden gave the agency the authority to regulate the sales of “ghost weapons” and close the loophole which made the purchase of a firearm easier.

Trump signed an executive directive earlier this month to “halt current policies that curtail the right of law-abiding Americans to bear arms and keep them.” A White House press release about the order accused the ATF unfairly of targeting gun owners.

The Biden administration has sought to eliminate Second Amendment Rights in a flagrant manner. The White House released a statement that stated, “Among other violations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives was weaponized in order to destroy the livelihoods of law abiding small business owners to limit Americans’ access to firearms.”

Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) and Rep. Eric Burlison (R-Mo.) led several House Republicans to introduce legislation in January that would completely abolish the agency.

Boebert stated in a press release that he could not imagine any circumstances or administrations where the ATF would be an ally of the Second Amendment, and law-abiding gun owners across America.

Steven Dettelback was the agency’s first permanent director since 2015 after previous administrations failed to confirm a nominee.

According to a LinkedIn posting by Hicks last week, Attorney General Pam Bondi fired Pamela Hicks as chief counsel for ATF after three years.

Bondi claimed, without any evidence, that Hicks is among the leaders of the Department of Justice, who are weaponizing the agency.

These people targeted gun owners. Bondi told Fox News that this would not happen under the current administration.

Patel, who is a Trump supporter, was confirmed to be the FBI’s new director by the Senate narrowly on Thursday. Patel’s nomination was opposed by all Democrats and two Republican senators: Lisa Murkowski from Alaska and Susan Collins from Maine.