The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is facing a dramatic rollback of federal gun regulations under a new ATF deregulation mandate issued by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a Trump-era agency revived to reduce bureaucratic overreach.
According to internal documents leaked to the press and confirmed by administration sources, DOGE has ordered the ATF to review and rescind over 50 firearm-related rules by July 4, including significant changes to gun tracking, record-keeping, and dealer inspections.
Among the most controversial provisions, the mandate proposes cutting 541 of the ATF’s 800 field inspectors, essentially gutting the agency’s capacity to enforce existing gun laws. DOGE is also pushing to simplify Form 4473—the background check and purchase document required for gun sales—from seven pages down to three, which critics say could open new loopholes for traffickers and straw purchasers.
Gun rights advocates argue the changes are long overdue. “The ATF has been used as a political weapon for too long,” said a spokesman for the Second Amendment Restoration Coalition. “It’s time to put power back in the hands of law-abiding Americans.”
However, law enforcement groups and gun control organizations are sounding the alarm. “This isn’t deregulation—it’s sabotage,” said a former ATF director. “Removing oversight doesn’t help responsible gun owners; it helps criminals.”
While the full extent of the ATF deregulation mandate remains in flux, the agency has confirmed that it is under review and that it “will comply with lawful directives” from DOGE.
With a deadline looming, the battle over the future of federal firearms enforcement may just be getting started.
