On August 17, 2026, Attorney General Todd Blanche finalized a federal regulation establishing a new process through which eligible individuals may apply to have their federal firearm rights restored.[1] The rule implements the relief mechanism authorized by 18 U.S.C. § 925(c), which permits the Attorney General to relieve an applicant from certain federal firearm restrictions.
Federal law prohibits certain individuals from possessing, shipping, transporting, or receiving firearms or ammunition. These restrictions are commonly called “firearm disabilities.” Under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g), they apply to several categories of individuals. Examples include unlawful users of controlled substances, individuals subject to certain mental-health adjudications, those convicted of felony crimes, and those with qualifying domestic-violence convictions or protective orders.
Although § 925(c) has long provided a path to relief, that process has been effectively unavailable to most applicants for more than three decades.[2] The new rule revives the process and gives the Department of Justice a framework for reviewing each application on its individual facts.
That said, restoration under the new process is neither automatic nor guaranteed. An applicant must establish to the Attorney General’s satisfaction that the circumstances underlying the firearm prohibition, together with the applicant’s record and subsequent conduct, demonstrate that the applicant is unlikely to act in a manner dangerous to public safety and that granting relief would not be contrary to the public interest.[3]
The rule identifies several circumstances that create a presumption against relief. Unless extraordinary circumstances exist, the Department will generally deny applications from individuals convicted of specified violent offenses, certain registered sex offenders, individuals unlawfully present in the United States, and others who present an ongoing danger.[4] Certain convictions may also create a presumption against relief for five or ten years. An individual may still apply while a presumption is in place, but overcoming it will require a substantially stronger showing.
The program will be introduced in stages after the final rule is published in the Federal Register. The Department plans to invite selected candidates to apply 30 days after publication. At 75 days, the process is expected to open to the first 5,000 public applicants. At 120 days, the Department plans to accept 500 additional applicants and begin charging a $30 application fee.[5] The online application is not yet available.
An application may require court records, criminal-history reports, proof that the applicant completed the sentence, electronic fingerprints, medical or military records, and affidavits from three qualified character references. Applicants must also disclose applicable convictions and potential disqualifiers, including certain matters that were later pardoned, expunged, set aside, or otherwise modified.
Any relief granted through the program applies only to federal firearm disabilities. It does not override separate restrictions imposed by state or tribal law.[6] Applicants must therefore consider both federal law and the laws of every applicable jurisdiction. Significant changes to the federal firearm-rights restoration process make this a critical time for affected individuals to understand their rights and available legal options. This new process may provide a meaningful path forward for individuals seeking restoration of their federal firearm rights. The Flannery | Georgalis Team, including partners Justin Withrow, Chris Joyce, and Yasmine Makridis, are experienced attorneys with significant former federal and state experience who advocate for clients involved in sensitive matters. The Department of Justice press release with a link to the full articles can be found below. We will continue to monitor these issues for developments.
[1] U.S. Department of Justice, “Attorney General Blanche Launches New Process to Restore Federal Firearm Rights,” August 17, 2026. https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/attorney-general-blanche-launches-new-process-restore-federal-firearm-rights.
[2] Id.
[3] Id.
[4] Id.
[5] U.S. Department of Justice, “Federal Firearm Rights Restoration,” updated August 17, 2026. https://www.justice.gov/ffrr
[6] U.S. Department of Justice, “Attorney General Blanche Launches New Process to Restore Federal Firearm Rights,” August 17, 2026. https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/attorney-general-blanche-launches-new-process-restore-federal-firearm-rights