In a significant reversal of a Biden-era gun control measure, the Trump administration has reached a legal settlement that will allow the sale and possession of so-called “forced reset triggers” — controversial firearm accessories that effectively enable semiautomatic rifles to fire at a rate similar to fully automatic machine guns.
The agreement, announced Friday by the Department of Justice (DOJ), resolves multiple lawsuits filed by gun rights advocates and manufacturers in response to the Biden administration’s 2022 ban on the devices. Under President Biden, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) had classified forced reset triggers as “machine guns” under federal law, making their possession and distribution illegal without proper licensing.
The devices, typically installed on AR-15-style rifles, work by rapidly resetting the trigger after each shot, allowing shooters to fire multiple rounds with minimal trigger movement. Gun control advocates have long argued that such devices dangerously blur the line between legal firearms and restricted automatic weapons, increasing the risk of mass shootings and gun violence.
President Donald Trump’s DOJ, however, took a different stance, stating that the forced reset triggers do not meet the technical definition of a machine gun as laid out under the National Firearms Act and Gun Control Act. As part of the settlement, the ATF has agreed to rescind its prior classification and halt enforcement actions against owners or sellers of the devices.
“This is a major win for the Second Amendment and the rights of lawful gun owners,” said Erich Pratt, Senior Vice President of Gun Owners of America, one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuits. “The Biden administration’s classification of forced reset triggers was a backdoor gun ban. We’re glad to see this unjust restriction lifted.”
Gun control groups, however, slammed the decision. “This move opens the door for more rapid-fire weapons to hit the streets and puts public safety at greater risk,” said Kris Brown, president of Brady: United Against Gun Violence. “Forced reset triggers allow semiautomatic rifles to function in nearly the same way as machine guns — which are heavily regulated for good reason.”
The Biden administration had banned the devices in part following growing concern about their use in crimes and their proliferation through online sales and gun shows. Forced reset triggers were seen by federal officials as an attempt to circumvent existing restrictions on fully automatic firearms, which are tightly regulated under federal law and generally illegal for civilian ownership unless manufactured before 1986 and registered with the ATF.
The Trump administration’s decision follows increasing pressure from gun rights groups and Republican lawmakers to roll back firearm restrictions imposed during the Biden presidency. The move also aligns with broader GOP efforts to expand gun rights and scale back federal oversight, a key agenda item for Trump’s 2025 term.
As part of the settlement, the DOJ will also stop ongoing confiscation efforts and return any seized forced reset trigger devices to their owners, provided there are no other legal issues involved. The ruling is likely to trigger fresh legal and political battles as Democrats, gun control organizations, and some law enforcement agencies express alarm at what they view as the erosion of common-sense safety regulations.
Meanwhile, the firearms industry has welcomed the decision. Several gun accessory manufacturers, who were facing financial losses and legal uncertainty, are expected to resume full production and distribution of forced reset triggers.
The White House has yet to issue a formal statement, but sources say Trump views the settlement as a key fulfillment of his campaign promise to “restore Second Amendment freedoms” curtailed by prior administrations.
Legal experts anticipate further challenges to the DOJ’s interpretation of federal gun laws, especially if incidents involving forced reset triggers lead to renewed public outcry or congressional action.