Office of Public Affairs | Justice Department Announces Final Rule Allowing Federal Firearms Licensees to Voluntarily Use NICS for Employee Background Checks

The Justice Department announced on October 30, 2026 that it finalized a rule allowing federal firearms licensees to voluntarily use the National Instant Criminal Background Check System for certain employee background checks. DOJ presents the change as a way to help licensees screen firearm-handling employees while remaining compatible with Second Amendment rights. The announcement is distinct from the Federal Register text because it summarizes the policy rationale and rollout in the department’s own public-facing terms.