U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) has welcomed the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) decision to revoke a rule from the Biden administration that placed tighter export controls on civilian firearms. The reversal is expected to ease restrictions for American firearm manufacturers seeking to sell products overseas.
“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, stated: “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.”
Earlier this year, Senator Lee sent a letter signed by 87 members of Congress urging the Department of Commerce to rescind the rule. Throughout President Biden’s term, Lee also introduced legislation such as the Protect American Gun Exporters Act and STOP the BIS Rule Act aimed at overturning these regulations.
The revoked rule had included measures such as a presumption of denial for exports of civilian firearms to 36 countries classified as high-risk. It also imposed license requirements on sporting shotguns and optics sold even to U.S. allies despite no clear evidence that these posed national security risks. Additional documentation requirements and shorter license validity periods were part of what critics described as bureaucratic obstacles for exporters.
With today’s changes, previous Trump-era rules governing civilian firearm exports have been reinstated. Most pistols, rifles, and non-long-barrel shotguns will still require an export license globally; however, long-barrel shotguns and most optics can now be exported without a license to U.S. allies or designated partners. Paperwork related to licensing applications will be simplified in line with standard BIS procedures. BIS will continue collaborating with other agencies to screen applications in order to prevent illegal arms transfers.
