ATF Announces 34 Reforms Repealing Gun Regulations

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.

Rules for dealer machine gun sales samples are updated, with details still being finalized.

The Proscribed Countries List under the Arms Export Control Act is updated, lifting restrictions on imports from most former Soviet-bloc countries except Russia, allowing legal importation of Eastern European and historical firearms. Dozens of technical clarifications address dual-use barrels, NFA serialization during conversions, straw-purchase language, and definitions of 'willfully,' aiming to reduce ambiguity and litigation.

Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen stated the reforms affirm that the Second Amendment is not a second-class right. The National Shooting Sports Foundation described the package as the result of collaboration to fix punitive Biden-era regulations.

The Second Amendment Foundation noted the rules help clear regulatory confusion that chilled rights exercise. Gun Owners of America contributed through litigation, including a case leading to the DOJ surrendering its appeal on the engaged-in-the-business rule 13 days before the announcement.

For instance, multiple courts blocked the pistol brace rule prior to its formal rescission. Industry groups like the National Shooting Sports Foundation and Second Amendment Foundation were involved in the announcement, highlighting partnership in identifying overreaches.

Officials emphasized that the changes do not weaken law enforcement but improve compliance through clearer rules. Enforcement will target gang members, repeat offenders, traffickers, and cartels.

“The Second Amendment is not a second-class right.”