ATF agents inspect an apartment building in Los Angeles after a raid. The White House will opt to leave the top job at the ATF vacant, avoiding a potentially difficult nomination battle amid a larger ongoing debate over gun control. | AP Photo White House to demote ATF chief — to keep him on the job The move is aimed at avoiding a confirmation battle at the scandal-plagued agency blamed for the 'Fast and Furious' gun-running operation.

The White House thinks the acting director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms is doing such a great job, they’re planning to demote him.

The unusual move allows the administration, which has said fighting gun violence is a top priority, to avoid a nasty confirmation hearing for a troubled agency.


The Obamaremains the ATF's top-ranked official, adding that he “is currently fulfilling the role and is providing the outstanding leadership the Bureau needs at this time.”

The ATF has faced chronic vacancies since 2006 when Congress started requiring that appointees win Senate approval for the top position, which oversees 2,500 agents charged with enforcing federal laws on alcohol, tobacco and firearms. In recent years, the bureau has faced continuing accusations of scandal and mismanagement, most notably the “Fast and Furious” gun-running operation in which the agency sold weapons to Mexican drug cartels in an effort to track them.

In fact, the ATF has only had one permanent director under Obama: B. Todd Jones. His confirmation became a priority as part of a flurry of executive activity to reduce gun violence in