Robert Cekada announced 34 proposed ATF rule changes on April 29, including letting dealers keep records only 20 or 30 years and easing scrutiny of state permits used instead of background checks.
The overhaul extends the Trump administration’s rollback of Biden-era gun enforcement, which invited previously revoked dealers to reapply and shifted large numbers of ATF personnel toward immigration work.
ATF revoked 56 dealer licenses in 2025, down 69% from 2024, while referrals for trafficking-related charges fell 15% and DOJ declinations of ATF trafficking referrals rose 30% in Trump’s first year.
Cekada disputed reports of mass ATF reassignments, saying no more than 100 agents were moved at a time, but former agents and prosecutors told ProPublica anti-trafficking work has been broadly diverted.
One major Biden-era measure still stands: the 2022 ghost-gun rule survived a Supreme Court challenge, though ATF says it is still reviewing whether other technical changes are needed.
How will proposed rule changes for gun dealers impact the balance between business operations and public safety?
With federal support diminished, what new strategies are cities using to combat illegal gun trafficking?
What are the earliest warning signs that reduced gun law enforcement is affecting public safety?
34 ATF Rule Changes in 2026: How Trump’s Overhaul Transforms Federal Gun Enforcement
Overview
In April 2026, the ATF, under the Trump administration and new Director Robert Cekada, made a dramatic shift away from the Biden-era 'Zero Tolerance' enforcement policy. This new approach focuses on targeting willful violators and criminal actors, rather than penalizing responsible licensees for minor, inadvertent compliance issues. The previous strict enforcement had faced strong criticism from the gun industry and rights groups, who argued that it led to license revocations over minor clerical errors. The Trump administration also stopped publicly listing revoked licenses, a move welcomed by critics who saw the old practice as a politically motivated 'name and shame' campaign.