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ATF Announces 34 Reforms Repealing Gun Regulations
The Trump administration announced a package of 34 regulatory changes by the ATF, including repeals of rules on pistol braces and private firearm sales. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and ATF Director Robert Cekada stated the reforms aim to reduce burdens on law-abiding gun owners while focusing enforcement on criminals.
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The Trump administration released a package of 34 regulatory actions by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives on April 29, 2026, repealing several Biden-era gun regulations. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and ATF Director Robert Cekada announced the reforms during a press conference, describing them as the most comprehensive overhaul in the agency's history.
The package includes 26 notices of proposed rulemaking open for 90-day public comment, six final rules, one direct final rule, and one interim final rule. These changes stem from President Trump's Executive Order 14206 issued in February 2025, which directed a review of regulations to protect Second Amendment rights.
Officials stated the reforms clarify rules, reduce red tape, and refocus enforcement on willful violators and criminal actors rather than inadvertent compliance issues.
The package rescinds the 2023 stabilizing brace rule, which redefined certain pistols as short-barreled rifles, requiring registration or modification. It also repeals the 2024 rule defining 'engaged in the business' as a dealer in firearms, which affected private sellers and gun-show participants by potentially requiring federal licenses for occasional sales.
A third change finalizes the machine gun definition following the Supreme Court's 2024 decision in Garland v. Cargill, which struck down a prior ban on bump stocks. Additionally, the Youth Handgun Safety Act notification requirement for federal firearms licensees is eliminated.
These repeals address rules that sources described as turning legal firearms into potential felonies and criminalizing private transactions.
The reforms modernize Form 4473 and authorize full electronic recordkeeping for federal firearms licensees. They define retention periods for transaction records, allowing destruction after expiration to prevent a permanent registry. Joint spousal registration of NFA firearms is introduced, and the chief law enforcement officer notification requirement is eliminated.
