Government Shutdown 2025: What FFLs Need to Know

On October 1, 2025, the federal government officially shut down after Congress failed to pass a budget. For FFLs, that raises a critical question: What does this mean for your business operations and compliance?

What’s Impacted by the Government Shutdown?

ATF NFA Branch is closed: Form 1, Form 3, and Form 4 applications can still be submitted, but they will not be reviewed or approved until the NFA branch returns to work.

Distributor transfers (Form 3s) paused: Distributors cannot ship silencers to your shop until Form 3 processing resumes, unless the Form 3 was already approved.

Customer NFA transfers paused: Silencer buyers can still purchase and submit paperwork, but approvals will take longer until examiners are back online.

FFL Licensing Center paused: New FFL and SOT applications will not be processed during the shutdown.

What’s Still Up and Running?

FBI NICS checks remain active: You can continue to transfer GCA-regulated firearms on a 4473 without interruption.

4473 processing is unaffected: Your day-to-day firearm sales aren’t impacted by the shutdown.

Customer suppressor orders can be submitted: Orders are logged, profiles built, kiosk fingerprinting can occur, and paperwork is queued — meaning once the NFA branch reopens, forms can already be submitted and ready for processing.

What This Means for Your Shop

Historically, government shutdowns have correlated with increased firearm sales. Consumers see instability in D.C. and decide now is the time to buy. Combined with the upcoming holiday sales season, this shutdown could actually drive more traffic into your store.

That makes it more important than ever to ensure your compliance is airtight. Paper errors on a 4473 can cost you time, money, and headaches — especially when ATF examiners come knocking.

Stay Compliant with 4473 Cloud

Don’t let bureaucratic delays turn into compliance nightmares. With 4473 Cloud, you can:

Pick your plan – tailored solutions for shops of any size.
Create your account – fast setup, immediate access.
Evict the ATF from your shop – eliminate paper clutter, streamline audits, and protect your license.

Bottom Line

The government might be shut down, but your shop doesn’t have to be. Stay compliant, keep selling, and let 4473 Cloud handle the hard stuff so you can focus on customers, sales, and making the most of the season.

Get started today!