The Wire · CalGunHub

DOJ interim rule withdraws ATF delegation over 925(c) relief applications

Published March 20, 2025 · Updated October 12, 2026

An interim final rule pulls ATF's delegated authority to adjudicate 18 U.S.C. 925(c) relief applications so the Attorney General can run the process directly.

Written by the CalGunHub desk from public reporting

Who this affects: Per the rule text, federal relief from firearms disabilities does not lift state-law prohibitions, so California's independent restrictions on firearm possession are unaffected. A person granted federal relief would still need to comply with California law, which has its own prohibited-person categories. The change affects which federal office processes applications, not California's rules. This is general information, not legal advice.

On March 20, 2025, the Department of Justice published an interim final rule, "Withdrawing the Attorney General's Delegation of Authority" (90 FR 13080, Docket OLP-179, AG Order 6212-2025, RIN 1105-AB78), per the Federal Register. The rule withdraws ATF's delegated authority to adjudicate applications for relief from federal firearms disabilities under 18 U.S.C. 925(c) and removes the regulation at 27 CFR 478.144, positioning the Attorney General to run the process directly. Since 1992, an appropriations rider had barred ATF from acting on individual 925(c) applications. The rule applies to persons prohibited from possessing firearms under 18 U.S.C. 922(g). It took effect immediately, with comments due June 18, 2025. A first batch of ten individual relief grants was published at 90 FR 17835 on April 29, 2025. The interim rule has been superseded: the final rule (91 FR 54054, published August 20, 2026, AG Order 7109-2026) took effect September 21, 2026, and DOJ began soliciting applications through the Office of the Pardon Attorney, with a $30 fee that can be waived.

Informational only, not legal advice. Facts are attributed to the sources listed above.