ATF’s “New Era of Reform” – What Does it Mean?

News from Reeves & Dola, LLP
Last week in an optimistic press release, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (“ATF”) announced it is launching a “New Era of Reform,” a new chapter the agency promises will be marked by “transparency, accountability, and partnership with the firearms industry.” Aiming to rebuild trust with federal firearms licensees, gun owners, and the public, and distinguishing this new era from the “ATF of the last four years,” the press release states that ATF has already taken several “steps” under new leadership, including:

1. Ending the Enhanced Regulatory Enforcement Policy that had targeted firearms dealers.
2. Publishing a new Administrative Action Policy that emphasizes firearm traceability and public safety and deemphasizes immaterial paperwork errors.
3. Encouraging any federal firearms licensees that had their licenses revoked or surrendered under the Enhanced Regulatory Enforcement Policy to reapply. Those applications will be judged under the new Administrative Action Policy.
4. Removing revoked FFL inspection reports from ATF’s public website.
5. Instituting a NICS alert policy that restricts use of NICS alerts to federal firearms trafficking violations.
6. Establishing a Senior Industry Partnership Advisor/Liaison within the Office of the Director to address industry concerns and foster productive engagement.
7. Establishing a classifications board and requiring all new firearm classifications to be reviewed and approved by the Office of the Director prior to publication.
8. Ensuring that all rules fairly implement congressional statutes rather than create entirely new laws by administrative order.
9. Improving response time from the Firearms & Ammunition Technology Division (FATD) to FFL inquiries.
10. Reversing a ban on the importation of non-lethal training ammunition.

But what are the practical implications of these new steps? Exactly how and when will ATF implement these new policies? The press release does not offer any further insight, but next week, ATF will be at the 2025 Firearms and Ammunition Compliance Conference, happening on June 2 and 3, in Arlington, Virginia, and co-hosted by the FAIR Trade Group and FRAC. This will be the first public event with ATF since the “New Era of Reform” announcement, and it stands to reason that ATF will speak directly on these new policies. FAIR promises to pack a lot in its 2-day conference. In addition to ATF on Day One, FAIR is having the Bureau of Industry and Security and the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls speak on developments under U.S. export controls on Day Two.

This is the first comprehensive compliance conference for the firearms industry since the new Trump Administration began. No doubt, this is the hottest ticket in town (and of which Reeves & Dola is a proud sponsor)!

About Reeves & Dola

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