U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) has welcomed the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) decision to rescind a rule introduced during the Biden administration that imposed stricter export controls on civilian firearms. The reversal is expected to help American firearm manufacturers compete more effectively in international markets.
“In March, I partnered with 87 colleagues in the House and Senate asking the Department of Commerce to reverse Joe Biden’s anti-firearm export rule and save American businesses,” said Senator Mike Lee. “This rule hurt law-abiding gun manufacturers by severely limiting their ability to export firearms – but today, those regulations are gone. Thank you to President Trump and his cabinet for putting American businesses and our Second Amendment rights first.”
Jeffrey I. Kessler, Under Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security, commented: “BIS strongly rejects the Biden Administration’s war on the Second Amendment and law-abiding firearms users. With today’s rule, BIS is restoring common sense to export controls and doing right by America’s proud firearms industry, while also continuing to protect national security.”
Senator Lee had previously urged the Department of Commerce to revoke the regulation through a letter co-signed by 87 members of Congress. He also introduced legislative measures such as the Protect American Gun Exporters Act and the STOP the BIS Rule Act aimed at overturning the policy.
The now-rescinded rule had created several requirements: it established a “presumption of denial” for civilian firearm exports to 36 countries considered high-risk; imposed export license requirements on sporting shotguns and optics even when exporting to U.S. allies; and added bureaucratic steps including extensive documentation requirements and short validity periods for licenses.
With these changes revoked, export rules revert largely to those from the first Trump administration. Most pistols, rifles, and non-long-barrel shotguns will still require worldwide export licenses, but long-barrel shotguns and most optics can be exported without a license to U.S. allies or certain partners. The paperwork required for license applications will be simplified according to standard BIS procedures, while screening processes remain in place to prevent illegal weapons transfers.
