WASHINGTON, DC — A coalition of 30 pro-Second Amendment lawmakers led by Rep. Ben Cline (R-VA) formally urged the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) to reinstate furloughed National Firearms Act (NFA) examiners during the ongoing federal government shutdown. The call to action resulted in a breakthrough: ATF examiners will return to work Monday to resume processing NFA applications, which had been paused due to the lapse in government funding.
In a letter dated October 16, 2025, the group of lawmakers criticized the ATF’s furloughing of NFA application examiners, stating it directly impacted the ability of Americans to exercise their Second Amendment rights. They argued that these bureaucratic delays—caused by the ongoing funding dispute in Congress—should not hinder law-abiding citizens from legally acquiring items regulated under the NFA, such as suppressors and short-barreled rifles.
“Under federal law, Second Amendment rights cannot be fully exercised without the involvement of the federal government,” the letter reads. “This clearly is not what the Framers intended.” The letter further stated that the NFA “unquestionably violates the Second Amendment” and called on the ATF to designate its NFA examiners as “excepted employees” whose work should continue during a shutdown.
The lawmakers contended that halting application processing during shutdowns has occurred before, notably in 2013 and 2018, and leads to indefinite delays that infringe on Americans’ right to self-defense. They urged Acting ATF Director Daniel Driscoll to develop a plan ensuring continued access to NFA-regulated items regardless of appropriations status.
Shortly after the letter’s release, the American Suppressor Association (ASA) announced that ATF examiners would return to work on Monday following advocacy efforts coordinated with the White House, Department of Justice, and key members of Congress.
“This is a major relief for lawful gun owners and a win for 2A rights amid the shutdown,” the ASA posted on social media.
This development restores the application processing system critical to gun owners seeking legal access to regulated firearms and equipment.
While the broader shutdown continues, this targeted reinstatement highlights how strategic pressure from Congress and advocacy groups can restore services affecting constitutionally protected rights. The incident underscores a long-standing concern among many gun owners: that bureaucratic delays and political decisions can severely hinder lawful access to firearms—an issue many believe should never hinge on government funding debates.
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