ATF suspends federal registration and approval rules for certain firearms
Gun owners will no longer be required to federally register or seek advance approval to manufacture or transfer silencers, short-barreled rifles, short-barreled shotguns and "Any Other Weapons" (AOWs), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) announced Friday.
The policy directive halts National Firearms Act (NFA) enforcement for items subject to zero-dollar tax rates under the updated guidelines.
In a letter to federal firearms licensees, ATF Director Robert Cekada noted that the move follows a federal court decision invalidating key manufacturing and transfer provisions of the NFA.
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"The direction from the President, Congress, and the courts is clear," Cekada said. "ATF is now following suit with our enforcement posture while continuing to ensure we remain focused where we are needed the most: combatting violent crime in American communities."
The regulatory shift stems from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, in which Congress reduced NFA manufacturing and transfer taxes to $0 for silencers, short-barreled rifles, short-barreled shotguns, and AOWs.
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Following that legislation, a federal judge in Texas issued an injunction in August, concluding that because Congress eliminated the underlying tax, the NFA’s mandatory registration and transfer provisions could no longer be justified under Congress’s constitutional taxing power. The ruling initially applied only to the plaintiffs, but the Justice Department subsequently extended its nonenforcement policy nationwide.
John Commerford, executive director of the National Rifle Association (NRA), praised the announcement, calling it a historic milestone.
"This is what happens when all three branches of government are willing to follow the Constitution," Commerford said in a statement. "Now the Trump administration has confirmed it will stop treating law-abiding Americans as if they still need special permission from the government to own hearing protection, rifles, or shotguns."
Although the specific NFA requirements and fees have been suspended, all transactions remain subject to the Gun Control Act. Licensed dealers are still required to perform standard background checks and maintain transaction records. Machine guns and destructive devices remain subject to NFA requirements, while federal approval is still required to transport short-barreled rifles and short-barreled shotguns across state lines.
The ATF noted it will continue to accept voluntary registrations for owners wishing to document their items, though future legal shifts could potentially reinstate prior regulations without automatic grandfathering protection.