DOJ Drops Defense of ATF's Illegal Dealer Mandate

Acting AG Todd Blanche's DOJ filed a motion to dismiss Texas v. ATF, pulling the federal government's defense of the ATF's 'Engaged in the Business' rule — a Biden-era regulation that dramatically expanded who must obtain a federal firearms license to sell guns.

This is a massive win for law-abiding gun owners and dealers across the country.

Biden's ATF cooked up the rule to redefine what it means to be 'engaged in the business' of selling firearms, deliberately casting the net wide enough to snare private sellers and hobbyist collectors. Federal courts repeatedly questioned whether the ATF had the authority to rewrite federal statute on its own say-so — because it didn't.

Texas led the legal charge, arguing the rule was an unlawful executive power grab that criminalized ordinary Second Amendment activity. They were right.

The DOJ's motion signals the Trump administration has zero interest in defending a rule that never should have existed. Rather than burn taxpayer dollars defending bureaucratic overreach in court, Blanche's team walked away — and gun owners should cheer every step.

This follows a broader pattern of the current administration rolling back ATF regulatory abuse, including the pistol brace rule that federal courts similarly struck down.

Make no mistake: the 'Engaged in the Business' rule was always about one thing — building a de facto federal registry by forcing more private transactions through licensed dealers and their bound books. Surveillance dressed up as regulation.

The fight isn't over. Anti-gun advocacy groups will look for any opening to revive this rule or push Congress to codify it into law. Gun owners need to stay locked in.

Contact your representatives and demand they oppose any legislative attempt to resurrect Biden's FFL expansion. The ATF works for the American people — not the other way around.