The US Justice Department is reportedly developing plans to significantly weaken a series of federal gun restrictions, a move aimed at placating Second Amendment activists, according to a major news report. However, the proposed changes would simultaneously introduce a controversial new rule forcing transgender firearm purchasers to disclose their birth sex on official paperwork.
Proposals for Looser Firearm Controls
Insiders within the department, speaking anonymously to The Washington Post, revealed that officials under Attorney General Pam Bondi are actively considering rolling back regulations. The potential changes include loosening limits on private firearm sales, easing restrictions on gun imports, and allowing more firearms to be shipped by mail. These discussions are said to be ongoing, with the administration attempting to balance the demands of the powerful gun rights lobby against maintaining the regulatory authority of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
A spokesperson for the Justice Department framed the potential shift as a corrective measure. "The Biden Administration waged war against the Second Amendment, but that era has come to an end under Attorney General Bondi," the spokesperson told the newspaper. They added that the department would "fight back in defence of freedom and the Constitution" whenever the rights of law-abiding gun owners are violated.
A Controversial Exception for Transgender Americans
In a notable exception to the broader deregulatory push, the proposed rules would introduce a new, stricter requirement for one specific group. Gun buyers would be compelled to list their sex assigned at birth on purchase paperwork, even if they have legally or medically transitioned. This mandate would effectively force transgender individuals who have changed their names and gender markers to disclose their transgender status—or commit a felony by lying on a federal form.
This focus on transgender individuals is not new for the Trump administration. Last year, the Justice Department reportedly explored whether it could ban transgender people from owning guns entirely, based on a controversial argument that gender dysphoria constitutes a mental illness. That earlier proposal faced opposition from prominent gun rights groups, including the National Rifle Association (NRA), which stated it does not support policies that strip law-abiding citizens of their rights without due process.
Broader Context of Gun Policy Shifts
The reported plans fit within a wider pattern of actions by the Trump administration to challenge gun control measures. These have included launching legal action against Washington D.C.'s restrictions on semi-automatic weapons and petitioning the Supreme Court to review laws barring illegal drug users from possessing firearms.
Concurrently, enforcement priorities have shifted. Federal gun seizures have dropped dramatically as ATF agents have been reassigned to support the administration's expansive crackdown on immigration. The proposed regulatory changes, which remain under debate according to the Post's sources, signal a continued effort to reshape US gun policy in favour of firearm ownership rights, albeit with a significant and contentious carve-out affecting the transgender community. The Independent has contacted the ATF for comment on the reports.
