Reps. Lee, Frost, Mfume Press ATF Director for Answers on Trump Admin Rollbacks on Gun Safety

Text of Letter (PDF)

WASHINGTON, D.C. - MAY 22, 2026 - Today, Congresswoman Summer L. Lee (PA-12), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Federal Law Enforcement, Congressman Maxwell Frost (FL-10), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Energy Policy, and Regulatory Affairs, and Congressman Kweisi Mfume (MD-07), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Government Operations, led a letter through the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform demanding answers from Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Director Robert Cekada on the agency's recent announcement that it will dismantle or weaken critical firearm regulations and safeguards.

The letter follows a May 14 Oversight hearing where Director Cekada testified before the Subcommittee on Federal Law Enforcement on ATF policy, firearm trace data protections, and the Tiahrt Amendment. During the hearing, Rep. Lee challenged Republicans for prioritizing privacy protections for gun dealers over meaningful action to prevent gun violence and told Director Cekada she would follow up with additional questions and concerns.

"I write to request information about the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives' (ATF) latest announcement that it will dismantle or weaken critical firearm regulations and safeguards that keep Americans safe," the lawmakers wrote. "Many of these regulations exist to reduce the frequency and lethality of horrific acts of violence, by providing tighter oversight on accessories like stabilizing braces and bump stocks that have been used by shooters to harm more people. The United States needs strong checks in place to prevent these horrific acts against children and communities."

The lawmakers raised concerns that ATF's announcement appears to contradict Director Cekada's testimony that the agency did not consult with gun industry-affiliated groups while formulating and drafting the proposed rules.

"On May 14, 2026, the Subcommittee on Law Enforcement held a hearing on privacy protections and the second amendment, where you testified that the ATF did not consult with gun-industry affiliated groups, such as the National Rifle Association, Gun Owners of America, or National Sports Shooting Foundation, in formulating and drafting the proposed rules," the lawmakers wrote. "However, ATF's joint press release contradicts your earlier testimony, which states that 'this review included a consideration of industry and expert feedback and concerns.' Additionally, in announcing these rule changes, you and Acting Attorney General Todd Banche were surrounded by representatives of these and other firearm industry groups."

The letter specifically calls out ATF's plans to repeal the stabilizing brace rule, repeal the Engaged in the Business Rule, and weaken recordkeeping requirements that law enforcement uses to trace firearms recovered at crime scenes. The lawmakers also warned that ATF's proposed recordkeeping rollbacks could make it harder for law enforcement to solve gun crimes.

The letter requests that ATF provide documents and information from January 20, 2025, to the present, including the process used to identify and review regulations for repeal or modification, any analytics or generative artificial intelligence tools used in that process, communications between ATF and Gun Owners of America, communications between ATF and the National Shooting Sports Foundation, and a list of ATF offices and staff involved in reviewing the rules.

"ATF is one of the few federal institutions that enforce federal firearms laws and hold violent, armed criminals accountable," the lawmakers wrote. "The lack of resources combined with these significant proposed rule changes will place the ATF in a weaker position to prevent and intercept criminal diversion of firearms."

Rep. Lee has been a leading voice in Congress for evidence-based gun violence prevention and community safety investments. She is the founder and co-chair of the Congressional Community Safety Caucus, which advances a public health-centered approach to violence prevention and community wellbeing. She has championed a comprehensive Community Safety Agenda, reintroduced the People's Response Act, and led efforts in Congress to invest in community-based violence intervention programs, expand mental health resources, and address the root causes of violence. Rep. Lee has also worked closely with local partners in Western Pennsylvania to support proven strategies, such as wrap-around services, that reduce gun violence and strengthen public safety.

The full letter is available here.

Congresswoman Summer Lee serves on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and the Committee on Education and Workforce. Since taking office in January 2023, she has delivered historic levels of federal investment totaling over $2.7 Billion brought back to Western PA, including over $580 million for infrastructure, over $110 million for affordable transit, over $500 million to keep clean energy manufacturing at home in Pennsylvania, and over $55 million on clean energy efforts in and around schools to help keep our kids and communities safe. These investments will help improve Western Pennsylvania's infrastructure and transit, ensure cleaner air and drinking water, lower housing costs, fund research institutions, fuel clean manufacturing, fund STEM innovation and entrepreneurship, boost workforce development, and create thousands of good paying union jobs.  Lee and her team have also delivered casework and constituent services to over 4,000 constituents with issues ranging from helping our seniors and disabled community access Medicare and social security to helping folks secure housing and helping families with immigration support and passports.