Federal Law Enforcement Officer Service Weapon Purchase Act of 2025

Bill Number: H.R. 2255
Origin Chamber: House
Congress: 119th Congress, Session 1
Policy Area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Status: Passed House
Latest Action: 2025-05-19: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Last Updated: 2026-07-11T03:28:20Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The legislation aims to enable federal law enforcement officers, including retirees, to purchase firearms that were previously issued to them after those weapons are retired (declared surplus) by their agency. This provides a structured way for officers to acquire their service weapons at a low cost, promoting a sense of continuity and appreciation for their service.

Key Provisions

Program Establishment: Within one year of the bill's enactment, the Administrator of General Services must create a program allowing federal law enforcement officers to buy retired firearms from the issuing federal agency.
Eligibility and Timing: Purchases are limited to the six-month period starting from the date the firearm is retired. The officer must be in good standing with their current or former employing agency.
Pricing: Firearms are sold at "salvage value," which is the estimated worth of the item based on its age, condition, and remaining usefulness (essentially a scrap or end-of-life value).
Definitions:
Federal law enforcement officer: Includes active and retired officers, as defined in U.S. criminal code (18 U.S.C. § 115(c)(1)), covering those with authority to make arrests or serve warrants.
Firearm: Standard definition under U.S. gun laws (18 U.S.C. § 921(a)), but excludes machine guns that were not legally owned before a 1986 ban on new civilian possession.
Retired firearm: Any agency firearm declared surplus and no longer needed.
Salvage value: The residual monetary value of an asset at the end of its operational life.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

Prior to this act, federal surplus firearms were typically disposed of through destruction, auction, or other methods managed by agencies like the General Services Administration (GSA), without a specific option for individual officers to purchase their own issued weapons.
This introduces a new, targeted exception to surplus property disposal rules, prioritizing personal purchases by qualifying officers over general public sales or scrapping, while adhering to existing federal firearms regulations.

Potential Impacts

Government Agencies: Streamlines the disposal of surplus firearms, potentially generating minor revenue from salvage sales and reducing administrative burdens on inventory management. Agencies like the FBI, DEA, or ATF would participate by verifying eligibility and transferring weapons.
Citizens: Primarily affects federal law enforcement personnel rather than the general public. It could indirectly boost morale among officers by allowing them to keep a symbolic piece of their service history, but has no broad impact on civilian gun ownership or access.
International Relations: None apparent; the bill is strictly domestic and focused on U.S. federal operations.

Main Stakeholders Affected

Federal Law Enforcement Officers: Active and retired personnel who qualify, gaining the ability to own their former service weapons.
Federal Agencies: Those issuing firearms (e.g., Department of Justice components, Homeland Security), responsible for implementing the program and ensuring compliance.
General Services Administration (GSA): Oversees program creation and surplus property management, handling logistics like sales and record-keeping.
Firearms Regulators: Entities like the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) ensure purchases align with national gun laws.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

Legal: Reinforces compliance with federal firearms statutes by explicitly excluding restricted machine guns and tying sales to existing definitions, avoiding conflicts with laws like the Gun Control Act. It creates a narrow carve-out in surplus property regulations (e.g., under 41 U.S.C. for federal asset disposal) without altering broader gun control frameworks.
Constitutional: No direct challenges; it operates within Second Amendment considerations for personal firearm ownership but is limited to government-issued items and vetted individuals, respecting due process through "good standing" requirements.
Political: Positions as a pro-law-enforcement measure, potentially appealing to supporters of officer welfare, but could spark debate on firearm proliferation or equity in access (e.g., only for federal, not state/local, officers). Passed by the House in May 2025 and referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee, indicating ongoing bipartisan or law enforcement-focused legislative interest.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Fry, Russell [R-SC-7]

Recent Actions

2025-05-19: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
2025-05-15: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
2025-05-15: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 234 - 182 (Roll no. 130). (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H2067) (Roll call 130)
2025-05-15: Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 234 - 182 (Roll no. 130). (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H2067) (Roll call 130)
2025-05-15: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H2077-2078)
2025-05-15: POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on H.R. 2255, the Chair put the question on passage of the bill and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Raskin demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced.
2025-05-15: The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
2025-05-15: DEBATE - The House resumed debate on H.R. 2255.
2025-05-15: DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 2255.
2025-05-15: Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 2240, H.R. 2243 and H.R. 2255. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 2240, H.R. 2243, and H.R. 2255. All bills are being considered under a closed rule with each bill having one motion to recommit.
2025-05-15: Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 405. (consideration: CR H2067-2071)
2025-05-14: Rule H. Res. 405 passed House.
2025-05-13: Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 405 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 2240, H.R. 2243 and H.R. 2255. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 2240, H.R. 2243, and H.R. 2255. All bills are being considered under a closed rule with each bill having one motion to recommit.
2025-04-28: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 57.
2025-04-28: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 119-80.

Bill Versions

Federal Law Enforcement Officer Service Weapon Purchase Act of 2025 — issued 2025-05-15 — PDF (4 pages)
Federal Law Enforcement Officer Service Weapon Purchase Act — issued 2025-03-21 — PDF (3 pages)
Federal Law Enforcement Officer Service Weapon Purchase Act of 2025 — issued 2025-05-19 — PDF (3 pages)
Federal Law Enforcement Officer Service Weapon Purchase Act of 2025 — issued 2025-04-28 — PDF (6 pages)