Summary
The Trump administration plans to restructure the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) by reducing its budget and easing some gun regulations. These changes involve making background checks last longer and letting gun dealers destroy records sooner, which could impact the agency’s oversight role in regulating gun sales.
Key Facts
- The Trump administration wants to change how the ATF works, including cutting its budget by 25%.
- Over 500 investigator jobs at the ATF could be eliminated due to budget cuts.
- The ATF inspects gun dealers and ensures they follow the law.
- Background checks for buying guns could become valid for 60 days instead of 30 days.
- Gun dealers may be allowed to destroy records after 20 years instead of keeping them indefinitely.
- The ATF plays a key role in tracing guns used in crimes to help solve them.
- The Department of Justice oversees the ATF and supports the proposed changes.
- The ATF aims to focus more on tackling violent crime by reducing what it considers unnecessary regulations.
