India, April 10 -- FBI Director Kash Patel was reportedly removed as the acting director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives after he stopped showing up to facilities there. Insiders told NBC News that Patel had not been "seen inside an ATF facility for weeks" and has now been replaced by US Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll, who will work in both roles. Patel, 45, remains in his FBI role.

It is unclear why Patel chose to ghost the gig, but Glenn Thrush, a New York Times reporter based in Washington, reported that the former federal prosecutor's "plate was too full" at the FBI. Thrush also said the sudden swap of Patel for Driscoll was "unusual," The Daily Beast reported.

Patel's sudden removal has "shocked and conf...