ATF recently called its National Firearms Act (NFA) examiners back to work during the current government shutdown.
In early October, ATF furloughed all NFA processors, putting private citizens’ applications for NFA-regulated firearms on hold.
But the NFA group’s return to work on October 20 ended an unconstitutional delay of Americans’ Second Amendment right to purchase and transfer firearms regulated under the archaic firearms act,
According to a post on X, the American Suppressor Association (@AmSuppressor) said, “Following our work with @POTUS, @TheJusticeDept, @WHOMB, @Jim_Jordan, and @RepBenCline, the ATF’s NFA examiners are returning to work to resume application processing. This is a major relief for lawful gun owners and a win for 2A rights amid the shutdown.”
An October 17, 2025 letter from Congressman Ben Cline (R-VA) and 29 other congressmen likely pushed the agency to get the examiners back to work, despite the shutdown. The letter to Acting Director Daniel Driscoll of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) urged the agency to uphold Second Amendment rights and continue processing National Firearms Act (NFA) applications during the ongoing government shutdown.
“As you know, National Firearms Act (“NFA”) application examiners are among the ATF employees currently furloughed during this shutdown. This means that Americans are currently unable to acquire widely popular NFA-regulated firearms and safety equipment, such as short-barreled rifles and silencers, because no one at ATF will approve their applications at this time,” the lawmakers wrote.
“Indeed, NFA application approvals are related to the discharge of the President’s constitutional duties and powers. The President of the United States is charged with protecting and defending the Constitution of the United States, and this includes the Second Amendment. To be sure, the National Firearms Act unquestionably violates the Second Amendment. But in enacting this statutory scheme, Congress tasked the Executive Branch with issuing application determinations. The President therefore has a constitutional imperative to ensure that Americans can exercise their Second Amendment rights even during periods of government shutdown. Otherwise, constitutionally enumerated rights rise and fall with congressional appropriation,” they continued.
Erich Pratt, Gun Owners of America’s senior vice president, said, “We are grateful to the Trump administration for recalling NFA examiners to work during the shutdown, ensuring that law-abiding Americans can once again exercise their rights without unnecessary government delays. The whole situation just proves exactly why Congress must repeal the archaic National Firearms Act. Gun owners shouldn’t be forced to beg the government’s permission to exercise their rights.”
Aidan Johnston, GOA’s director of federal affairs, said, “The Trump admin is recognizing the right to own suppressors, short-barreled rifles, and other NFA firearms as ‘essential,’ whereas during past shutdowns, only law enforcement and government entities could have their NFA transfers processed.”
ATF anticipates that the current NFA forms backlog will be cleared within 7-10 days.
The other representatives who signed Cline’s letter were: Reps. Andy Biggs (R-AZ), Eric Burlison (R-MO), Buddy Carter (R-GA), Michael Cloud (R-TX), Andrew Clyde (R-GA), Mike Collins (R-GA), Eli Crane (R-AZ), Troy Downing (R-MT), Randy Fine (R-FL), Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN), Russ Fulcher (R-ID), Paul Gosar (R-AZ), Marjorie Taylor Green (R-GA), Harriet Hageman (R-WY), Mark Harris (R-NC), Wesley Hunt (R-TX), Rich McCormick (R-GA), John McGuire (R-VA), Mary Miller (R-IL), Barry Moore (R-AL), Riley Moore (R-WV), Robert Onder (R-MO), August Pfluger (R-TX), Chip Roy (R-TX), Michael Rulli (R-OH), Jefferson Shreve (R-IN), Victoria Spartz (R-IN), Randy Weber (R-TX), and Rudy Yakym (R-IN).
