Gun rights organizations praise Trump’s choice to head the ATF as ‘the first genuinely pro-Second Amendment nominee.’

Trump Nominates Robert Secada to Lead ATF

President Trump has nominated Robert Secada, currently the Deputy Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), to head the agency. This choice has been praised as a significant pro-Second Amendment selection.

Secada’s nomination was submitted to Congress on Tuesday and has been referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee. A former New York City police detective, he has held various federal law enforcement roles since 2005 and has been serving as deputy chief since April.

Knox Williams, president of the American Suppressor Association, stated, “In my role as Deputy Secretary, we have collaborated closely with Robert Secada to ensure law-abiding gun owners are included in policy discussions.” He emphasized that if confirmed, Secada would be the first genuinely pro-Second Amendment nominee for this position, adding that Trump’s decision reinforces a commitment to gun rights.

The National Shooting Sports Foundation expressed positive sentiments regarding the nomination, stating that the ATF, along with the firearms industry it oversees, deserves a Senate-confirmed leader. They expressed confidence in Secada’s qualifications to manage the ATF effectively.

Currently, the bureau is under the leadership of Acting Director Daniel Driscoll, who also holds the Secretary of the Army title. FBI Director Kash Patel temporarily assumed the ATF acting role earlier this year before being replaced by Driscoll.

The Trump administration is aiming to reshape the ATF, which is responsible for regulating firearms and investigating illegal gun trafficking. In July, a proposal was put forward to dissolve the ATF as a standalone agency and merge its duties with the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Separately, Attorney General Pam Bondi, who supervises the ATF, previously terminated the agency’s general counsel, citing alleged targeting of gun owners. Additionally, the ATF has faced criticism over accusations of retaliating against whistleblowers.

However, not everyone supports Secada’s nomination. Rep. Eric Burleson (R-Missouri), who has previously introduced legislation to eliminate the ATF, voiced his disapproval, arguing that simply swapping one bureaucrat for another won’t resolve the agency’s issues. He believes that Americans deserve protection of their rights rather than regulation.