During a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Wednesday, ATF director nominee Robert Cekada said the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives should not interfere with the rights of lawful gun owners.
“The ATF’s mission is not to burden lawful gun owners,” Cekada told lawmakers. He added that “the right to bear arms is a constitutional guarantee” he is committed to protecting.
Committee members questioned Cekada about whether he would review and reverse policies that negatively affect Second Amendment rights if confirmed as director.
In response, Cekada said the agency would follow President Donald Trump’s executive order on gun rights.
“We will follow the president’s Second Amendment executive order to review all ATF policies, procedures, and regulations to ensure that none of those infringe upon the Second Amendment unnecessarily,” he said.
Cekada’s testimony drew praise from the Second Amendment Foundation, which expressed optimism about his approach in a post on X.
The organization said it was encouraged by Cekada’s statements and hopeful he would lead the agency in a more constitutionally respectful direction, while remaining prepared to hold him accountable if he did not.
Breitbart News also reported spending time with Cekada at the 2026 SHOT Show and at the ATF’s Las Vegas headquarters, where he repeatedly emphasized his opposition to using the agency against law-abiding gun owners.
According to the report, Cekada said he is determined to prevent the ATF from being politicized or weaponized, as critics argue occurred under previous administrations.
Throughout his public appearances and testimony, Cekada has consistently stressed the importance of protecting the rights of responsible gun owners and respecting the limits placed on federal authority by the Constitution.
Supporters say his confirmation could mark a shift in how the ATF approaches enforcement and regulatory policy, particularly regarding firearms and accessories.
The Senate Judiciary Committee is expected to continue reviewing Cekada’s nomination in the coming weeks before a full Senate vote.
