Menendez Again Blocks Transfer of Firearm Controls From State to Commerce

Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., for a second time announced he will block the Trump administration’s efforts to transfer export controls of firearms from the State Department to the Commerce Department, according to a Dec. 13 press release. In a Dec. 10 letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Menendez said the military items should not be removed from the State Department’s U.S. Munitions List and should instead be subject to “more rigorous controls” and oversight. The senator previously announced a hold on the transfer in February (see 1903060021).

Menendez will retain his hold on the transfer until the Trump administration addresses his request that the House Foreign Affairs and Senate Foreign Relations committees be informed of any proposed license export that would normally be controlled under the USML, the letter said. In a second request, Menendez said the Commerce Department successfully addressed his concern by prohibiting publications of 3D printing information about firearms manufacturing online, but said the change “could easily be undone.” To maintain the change, the senator suggested “statutory authority” may be needed.