In a move that stunned federal agencies and gun control advocates alike, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has stormed into the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) with one goal: cut gun regulations, and fast. As reported by Hegshot87’s Howard Gatch, this sudden initiative could lead to over 50 gun control rules being slashed or revised by July 4th. Though details remain murky, the effort, spearheaded by DOGE and backed by the Trump administration, marks a major shift in how federal gun laws are enforced and reviewed.
While the exact list of regulations on the chopping block is still unknown, sources agree that DOGE isn’t just asking for minor tweaks. The operation appears to target deep structural changes at the ATF, starting with its rulebook and ending with its workforce. And it’s moving fast.
The Magic Number: 47 (Or Maybe More)
According to Washington Post journalist Perry Stein, the initial plan was to cut 47 regulations – an intentional nod to Trump being the 47th president. But as Stein notes, that symbolic number didn’t last long. “Staffers are now poised to exceed that goal,” he wrote, with insiders saying the real target could surpass 50 cuts.
Troy from 2A News Now confirmed this, stating in his video that DOGE is “working with the ATF general counsel to cut at least 50 regulations by the 4th of July.” For those keeping score, that’s a regulatory bonfire happening just in time for Independence Day.
ATF Workforce Slashed, Mission Shrinking
But the attack on regulations isn’t happening in a vacuum. Stein also reported that the Trump administration plans to cut 541 of ATF’s roughly 800 inspectors. The agency is already stretched thin, and these cuts would essentially paralyze the inspection of gun dealers. As of now, less than 10% of federal firearms licensees (FFLs) get inspected each year.
Attorney General Pam Bondi has made it clear she wants ATF to focus on “real police work,” like tracking criminals, not checking paperwork at gun shops. In her words, quoted by Stein, agents should be “helping ICE” and “hunting down bad guys,” not bothering “lawful gun owners in the middle of the night.”
The 4473 Form Could Get a Major Trim
One of the most talked-about reforms involves the infamous ATF Form 4473. Currently seven pages long, it’s the required form that gun buyers must complete before purchasing a firearm. As Gatch explained in his Hegshot87 video, many of the questions seem redundant or confusing, especially those added under the Biden administration.
Perry Stein reported that DOGE plans to condense multiple questions, such as mental health status, dishonorable discharge, and drug use, into a single “yes” or “no” box. Critics like Gizmondo’s AJ Dellinger worry this could make it harder to identify red flags. Others, like Larry Keane from the National Shooting Sports Foundation, celebrated the move, saying it reduces unnecessary errors and traps for law-abiding buyers.
Goodbye to Import Restrictions?
Gatch also speculated that DOGE might take aim at long-standing import restrictions. These rules date back to the Reagan and Bush eras and require imported firearms to have fewer than 10 foreign-made parts. While the goal was to prevent an influx of certain military-style rifles, critics argue the rules are outdated, arbitrary, and expensive to comply with.
Removing these restrictions could open the door to cheaper, more authentic imported firearms. Gatch said, “Why do we even have a compliant firearm? It literally does nothing in changing the gun.”
Under-21 Restrictions May Be Scrapped
Another major target could be the under-21 restrictions created by the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. These rules added extra background check hurdles for adults aged 18 to 20. Gatch called the provision an “insult,” arguing that 18-year-olds are considered legal adults who can vote, serve in the military, and marry – but are treated like children when it comes to gun rights.
If DOGE presses ATF to remove or simplify these added barriers, it would be a clear win for younger gun buyers, especially in states with constitutional carry laws.
Critics Say This is a Dream for Gun Traffickers
Not everyone is cheering. Gun control groups are calling this the most dangerous rollback of firearms enforcement in modern history. As Perry Stein quoted, John Feinblatt from Everytown for Gun Safety said, “These cuts would be a dream come true for gun traffickers, straw purchasers, and unscrupulous gun dealers.”
Giffords Law Center’s Adam Skaggs echoed the concern: “This is the most radical defunding of the police we have ever seen from the federal government.” Critics argue that by gutting inspections and weakening enforcement, DOGE is essentially inviting abuse.
Supporters Call It Long-Overdue Deregulation
But on the other side, pro-gun voices say these changes are not only justified – they’re overdue. As Troy explained on 2A News Now, the regulations being removed “burden law-abiding citizens” and often punish minor clerical errors more than actual criminal conduct.
Attorney General Bondi has also floated the idea of merging the ATF with the DEA, further scaling back its unique power. With DOGE’s involvement and ATF General Counsel Robert Leider leading the regulatory review, the agency is being thoroughly reshaped.
A Timeline That Ends with Fireworks
The deadline for these changes is symbolic but serious: July 4. As AJ Dellinger joked in Gizmondo, “Nothing would be a better gift to America for her birthday than easier access to firearms.” Whether you agree or not, the speed of this overhaul is staggering.
DOGE has gone from a controversial cost-cutting experiment to a full-blown policy agency – and it’s now rewriting decades of federal gun enforcement in less than a month.
A Dangerous Precedent or a Much-Needed Reset?
Let’s pause for a moment. Whether you support gun rights or not, it’s hard to ignore the magnitude of what’s happening here. Entire departments are being downsized. Rules that took decades to build are being tossed out in weeks. There’s very little transparency, and the decision-making seems rushed to meet a symbolic deadline.
On one hand, some of these reforms, like trimming the 4473 form or revisiting import rules, make sense. On the other, this speed-run through the rulebook could have serious consequences if there’s no oversight. This is less about gun rights and more about how fast the government can be rewritten behind closed doors.
The Constitution Still Says “Well-Regulated”
As Dellinger snarkily wrote, “The Constitution still says ‘well-regulated’ in the Second Amendment, right? Or can DOGE cut that line too?” That’s the real tension here. Everyone supports constitutional rights, but regulation exists for a reason. The goal should be balance, not demolition.
It’s one thing to streamline a form or cut waste. It’s another to gut an entire agency without a replacement plan. If DOGE and the Trump administration don’t get that balance right, they could end up creating more chaos than clarity.
A Seismic Shake-Up with National Fallout
DOGE’s takeover of the ATF is a paradigm shift. Backed by Trump, guided by General Counsel Robert Leider, and cheered on by gun rights groups, this wave of deregulation could reshape how guns are bought, sold, and tracked in America.
Sources like Hegshot87, 2A News Now, Washington Post, and Gizmondo all confirm: cuts are coming, and they’re coming fast. Whether this is a long-overdue course correction or a dangerous unraveling of public safety remains to be seen. Either way, by July 4, the ATF will likely look very different – and so will the fight over America’s gun laws.
A former park ranger and wildlife conservationist, Lisa’s passion for survival started with her deep connection to nature. Raised on a small farm in northern Wisconsin, she learned how to grow her own food, raise livestock, and live off the land. Lisa is our dedicated Second Amendment news writer and also focuses on homesteading, natural remedies, and survival strategies. Lisa aims to help others live more sustainably and prepare for the unexpected.