B. Todd Jones. Retrieved from atf.gov on March 23, 2015.
On Friday, BATFE (Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives) Director B. Todd Jones announced his resignation, effective March 31st. He has held the position since 2013.
Many have speculated as to why Jones is resigning, and have discussed all that has taken place throughout his leadership. Here at PennLAGO we’ve decided to take a different approach: what happens next?
Thomas E. Brandon. Retrieved from atf.gov on March 23, 2015.
Immediately, Deputy Director Thomas E. Brandon will take the reigns as acting director. BATFE is no stranger to acting directors. When Jones was sworn in in August of 2013, he was BATFE’s first “permanent” director in nearly seven years.
The executive branch holds the power to nominate a new permanent director, as President Obama nominated Jones in 2013. Historically, there has been no sense of urgency with respect to these nominations. During the roughly seven year period in which BATFE lacked a permanent director, only three nominations were made: Mike Sullivan, Andrew Traver and B. Todd Jones.
Notice that Sullivan and Traver did not ultimately fill the position. Since 2006, the law has required that all nominees must be confirmed by the Senate. Sullivan and Traver did not receive confirmation.
Michael Sullivan retrieved from masslive.com on March 23, 2015.
It is undeniable that the President’s ideal nominee will differ from the list of individuals the Senate is willing to approve. What remains to be seen is whether that divide will prevent BATFE from seeing a new permanent director for another seven years.