Firearm Access During Shutdowns Act of 2025

Summary

Firearm Access During Shutdowns Act of 2025 This bill requires various federal agencies to continue certain operations, functions, and services related to firearms during a government shutdown. The bill applies to  the Federal Bureau of Investigation's National Instant Criminal Background Check System, including the processing of background checks in support of the operations of the Directorate of Enforcement Programs and Services of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); the ATF's Directorate of Enforcement Programs and Services; the activities of the Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security relating to firearms and firearm-related products, including activities related to processing of applications for export licenses; and the activities of the Department of State's Directorate of Defense Trade Controls relating to firearms and firearm-related products, including activities related to processing of applications for export licenses. Under the bill, (1) these operations, functions, and services are deemed to relate to an emergency involving the safety of human life or the protection of property; and (2) employees carrying out the operations, functions, and services are deemed to be excepted employees. (Under an exception in the Antideficiency Act, an employee whose duties involve the safety of human life or the protection of property may be required to work during a government shutdown. Employees who are required to work during a government shutdown because they fall under this or other exceptions are known as excepted employees.)

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Timeline

1. 30 October 2025

   Introduced

   Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

   Source: IntroReferral

2. 30 October 2025

   Introduced

   Introduced in Senate

   Source: IntroReferral

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

No version snapshots stored. Document URLs remain at the source.

Documents

2 official files

• Introduced in Senate

  Introduced in Senate · EN · 30 October 2025

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Introduced in Senate

  summary · EN · 30 October 2025

  Open at official source

Sponsors

• James Risch · R · Sponsor
• Shelley Capito · R · Sponsor
• Bill Cassidy · R · Sponsor
• Mike Crapo · R · Sponsor
• Steve Daines · R · Sponsor
• James Lankford · R · Sponsor
• Cindy Hyde-Smith · R · Sponsor
• James Justice · R · Sponsor
• Tim Sheehy · R · Sponsor
• Pete Ricketts · R · Sponsor
• Sen. Moody, Ashley [R-FL] · R · Cosponsor
• John Cornyn · R · Cosponsor
• Jim Banks · R · Cosponsor
• Darline Graham · R · Cosponsor
• Marsha Blackburn · R · Cosponsor
• · ssju00 · Standing

Related records

• related to ← Firearm Access During Shutdowns Act