Trump Administration Allows Key Provisions of National Firearms Act to Expire

The Justice Department opted not to appeal a federal court decision that effectively dismantled longstanding regulations governing the possession of short-barreled firearms and suppressors, responding to pressure from Republican lawmakers and gun rights advocates.

Judge James Wesley Hendrix of the Northern District of Texas issued a ruling on Wednesday declaring the permitting requirements under the National Firearms Act (N.F.A.) unconstitutional, with an effective date of Thursday unless the Justice Department intervened. Court records confirm that officials did not file an appeal before the midnight deadline, allowing the ruling to take effect.

The administration’s decision follows President Donald Trump’s signing of legislation last year that removed the $200 federal tax required for registering suppressors and short-barreled weapons. With the tax eliminated, Judge Hendrix concluded in a 66-page order that the law’s regulatory provisions could not be justified under Congress’s constitutional taxing authority. The Justice Department, which had previously defended the restrictions, now has 52 days to pursue an appeal.

Gun rights organizations and retailers, many of whom supported the lawsuit, have hailed the ruling as a victory. “The government failed to protect public safety by not appealing,” claimed Kris Brown, president of the Brady Campaign, highlighting opposition from gun control advocates. The ruling permits suppressor sales without federal registration, though state laws—such as those in California, New York, and Washington, D.C.,—remain in force.

The Justice Department stated it was “assessing the impact” of the decision without explaining the lack of appeal. Meanwhile, Gun Owners of America issued a letter urging officials to uphold the ruling, noting retailers’ plans to begin selling suppressors without permits by Thursday. Despite the changes, buyers must still pass standard background checks, and state restrictions apply.

The N.F.A., enacted in 1934 amid Prohibition-era gun violence, imposed taxes and registration for weapons deemed particularly concealable or dangerous. By 2026, the $200 tax had become negligible compared to modern firearm costs. The recent tax abolition and subsequent lawsuits sought to challenge the law’s remaining provisions, which historically restricted machine guns while leaving suppressors and short-barreled rifles subject to federal oversight.

While Judge Hendrix’s ruling affects millions of gun owners and businesses, its nationwide impact is limited by Supreme Court precedent restricting federal judges from imposing broad executive policy blocks. The decision applies to participants in the lawsuit, including major online retailers like Palmetto State Armory, which dominate firearm sales. Machine gun regulations, however, remain intact under the N.F.A.

Source link