The timeline for acquiring a gun permit in Washington, D.C., has been reduced from several months to just days, part of President Donald Trump’s broader effort to combat violent crime in the nation’s capital.
FOX News reported that both the concealed carry permitting process and firearm registration process have been drastically shortened. The change follows directives from the “Making DC Safe and Beautiful Task Force,” which has been working with local officials to remove bureaucratic hurdles.
White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers told FOX News that the task force’s efforts successfully reduced the average processing time for permits from months to only five days. “President Trump is not only stopping violent crime in Washington, D.C., he is also streamlining the permitting process for law-abiding residents who want the ability to protect themselves and their families,” Rogers said.
The administration’s push to accelerate the process began before the most recent federal crackdown on crime in D.C. On March 31, 2025, the NRA Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA) reported that President Trump had signed an executive order creating the task force. The order instructed the group to “collaborate with appropriate local government entities to provide assistance to increase the speed and lower the cost of processing concealed carry license requests in the District of Columbia.”
The changes come as part of a multi-pronged strategy to restore order and safety in the capital, which has faced rising crime rates in recent years. Supporters argue that faster access to concealed carry permits will allow law-abiding citizens to better protect themselves, while opponents have raised concerns about the potential for increased firearm presence in public spaces.
