(Dmytro “Henry” Aleksandrov, Headline USA) Reps. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., and Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., sent a letter on Monday that unveiled their plan to use the Holman Rule to defund the Office of the Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in the next available appropriations period.
Additionally, the two GOP lawmakers explained why they intend to use the Holman Rule to defund the ATF director, according to a copy of the letter to House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Rep. Kay Granger, R-Texas, that was exclusively obtained by the Daily Caller.
Amendments to appropriations legislation that would cut the salary of or fire certain federal employees are permitted by the Holman Rule. The rule also allows the elimination of specific programs.
“The ATF has shown itself incapable of operating within the confines of its statutory authority, and we must force a change,” the letter stated. “Hence, I write to inform you that I intend to use the Holman Rule to defund the Office of the Director of the ATF in the next available appropriations period.”
This isn’t the first time when both Gaetz and Greene wanted to abolish the ATF. In June 2021, Greene introduced legislation — the Brian A. Terry Memorial Eliminate the ATF Act — that would abolish the ATF if signed into law.
In January 2023, Gaetz also introduced legislation to abolish the ATF after the organization enacted a rule that would make pistol-stabilizing braces illegal for anyone without a certain license.
The Abolish the ATF Act aimed to get rid of the ATF immediately after being enacted. Gaetz introduced the bill after the ATF said that it would try to take away the 2nd Amendment rights of gun owners by making them face the possibility of being charged with a felony if they do not register their firearms with the stabilizing braces.
On Monday, Gaetz hosted a Congressional Field Hearing at the Okaloosa County Administrative Complex in Shalimar, Fla., regarding the ATF’s targeting of Federal Firearms Licenses.
