Victory for gun owners: Trump administration eliminates federal requirements for silencers, short-barreled rifles

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) announced last Friday that it will no longer enforce federal registration and prior authorization requirements for silencers, short-barreled rifles, short-barreled shotguns and firearms classified as "any other weapon" (AOW) covered by the revised regulations. In a letter addressed to holders of federal firearms dealer licenses, ATF Director Robert Cekada explained that the decision follows a federal court ruling that struck down key provisions of the NFA related to the manufacture and transfer of certain firearms.

The directive suspends the application of the National Firearms Act (NFA) provisions for these items, which are now subject to a zero-dollar tax. The policy change follows the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill, which eliminated federal taxes on the manufacture and transfer — as provided for in the NFA — of silencers, short-barreled rifles, short-barreled shotguns and AOWs, by setting those rates at zero.

"The direction from the President, Congress and the courts is clear. 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," Cekada said.

John Commerford, executive director of the National Rifle Association (NRA), welcomed the announcement and called it a historic milestone. "This is what happens when all three branches of government are willing to follow the Constitution. 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," Commerford said in a statement.