Trump-Appointed ATF Chief Unleashes Sweeping Rollbacks on Gun Regulations

On April 29, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) announced a sweeping overhaul of firearms regulations, marking one of the largest single-day rollbacks in the agency’s history. This regulatory blitz follows President Trump’s February 2025 executive order demanding a review and reversal of any federal action deemed to infringe on Second Amendment rights.

Trump’s directive tasked the Attorney General with scrutinizing all DOJ and ATF rules, guidance, and enforcement policies related to firearms, with an eye toward dismantling what the administration calls “ongoing infringements.” The National Rifle Association’s lobbying arm (NRA-ILA) enthusiastically submitted a detailed memo recommending some 50 specific actions to dismantle Biden-era gun control efforts. The new ATF leadership has embraced this agenda wholesale.

Among the most significant changes is the repeal of the Biden-era “Factoring Criteria for Firearms With Attached ‘Stabilizing Braces’” rule. The previous administration’s attempt to regulate these braces as short-barreled rifles was deemed “punitive, illegal, unconstitutional, and unworkable” by the NRA. Now, the ATF is moving to consign this rule to the “dustbin of history,” effectively deregulating these devices that had been linked to efforts to curb gun violence.

Another major rollback targets the definition of who is “engaged in the business” of selling firearms. The Biden administration’s rule sought to expand this definition to enforce “universal background checks” through administrative means, a move widely opposed by gun rights advocates. The Trump-appointed ATF plans to rescind provisions that exceeded statutory language, aiming to narrow the scope of dealers and reduce regulatory burdens.

Record-keeping requirements are also being loosened. Under Biden, Federal Firearm Licensees (FFLs) had to retain business records indefinitely, a policy criticized for creating de facto gun registries prohibited by federal law. The ATF now proposes reinstating a 20- to 30-year retention period, balancing law enforcement needs with privacy concerns, though critics warn this could hinder investigations into long-term firearm trafficking.

Perhaps most controversially, the ATF’s proposed rule on the Firearms Owners’ Protection Act (FOPA) clarifies that common travel activities—overnight stays, refueling, emergency stops—are protected when transporting firearms legally across state lines. This interpretation could shield gun owners traveling through restrictive states like New Jersey and New York from prosecution, but it also raises fears of enabling easier movement of firearms into areas with stricter gun laws.

Finally, the ATF plans to redefine “willfully” in the context of Gun Control Act violations, a term the Biden-era agency used to justify aggressive inspections and license revocations. This change signals a potential rollback of the “zero tolerance” enforcement regime that critics say unfairly targeted lawful gun dealers over minor errors.

These regulatory reversals reflect the Trump administration’s broader pattern of dismantling federal safeguards through executive action, bypassing Congress and ignoring the public safety consequences. While framed as restoring constitutional rights, these moves risk undermining efforts to curb gun violence and hold the firearms industry accountable.

We will continue monitoring the official publication of these rules and their impact on gun policy and public safety. The ATF’s “new era of reform” may be a euphemism for deregulation that prioritizes gun rights over responsible oversight.