For over three decades, Washington maintained a federal process for restoring firearm rights—but nearly no working mechanism existed for ordinary Americans to access it. President Trump’s Justice Department has now created that pathway through Attorney General Todd Blanche’s finalized rule.

The new regulation establishes an individual application process for eligible citizens barred from federal firearms possession under U.S. law. Crucially, the change does not include blanket pardons or automatic relief—violent criminals remain ineligible unless they meet stringent public-safety criteria. Applicants must demonstrate their record, rehabilitation, conduct since the disqualifying event, and surrounding circumstances prove they pose no public danger.

The rule revitalizes 18 U.S.C. § 925(c), a statute Congress originally designed for prohibited individuals to seek relief from firearm restrictions. That mechanism froze in 1992 after Congress halted funding for processing applications. Blanche’s final rule restores individualized review while maintaining strict safety standards: the Justice Department must confirm that restoring rights serves public interest and applicants do not fall into categories like violent felons, registered sex offenders, illegal aliens, or those presenting ongoing danger.

State-law prohibitions remain unaffected even with federal relief. The department estimates over 30 million Americans currently face federal firearm restrictions but emphasizes that successful applications require building individual records and passing government safety reviews. Applicants must submit certified court documents, fingerprints, character references, and notify local law enforcement—no automatic approval exists.

The rule also sets clear time-based presumptions: drug-trafficking or domestic-violence convictions trigger ten-year waiting periods; other felonies impose five years. The Justice Department received 15,559 public comments during development, with 91 percent supporting the policy’s goal of reviving restoration procedures without relaxing safety oversight.

Applications will open September 25, 2026, followed by staggered windows in November 2026 and January 2027 to manage caseloads. The portal requires a $30 application fee, certified records, and thorough documentation—ensuring the process remains individualized rather than automatic.

This marks the first operational federal firearm rights restoration pathway in nearly 34 years, forcing the government to reevaluate eligibility on a case-by-case basis while maintaining rigorous public-safety safeguards.