By Steve Neavling
The ATF finally has a Senate-confirmed leader.
The U.S. Senate on Tuesday narrowly approved Steven Dettelbach to be the director of the ATF, making him the agency’s first permeant leader since 2015.
Dettelbach, a former U.S. attorney from Ohio, was confirmed 48-46.
Republicans Susan Collins of Maine and Rob Portman Ohio joined every Democrat in voting for Dettelbach.
Dettelbach, 57, has advocated for reinstating the assault weapons ban and universal background checks on firearms purchases.
After running an unsuccessful campaign to serve as attorney general in Ohio in 2018, he worked in the private sector for BakerHostetler.
Dettelbach is President Biden’s second choice to lead the ATF. Biden’s first pick, David Chipman, couldn’t get enough votes in the Senate for confirmation last year.
