The ARMAS Act of 2025 transfers control of firearm and munitions exports from the Department of Commerce to the Department of State within one year, responding to findings that approximately 70% of crime firearms recovered in Mexico originate from the United States. The legislation establishes strict new controls on munitions exports to designated countries in the Americas by requiring State Department certification before any transfers, mandating advance congressional notice of 15-30 days (allowing lawmakers to block sales), and prohibiting retransfers without U.S. consent. The bill also requires comprehensive federal reporting within 180 days on efforts to disrupt illegal firearms trafficking, with an inter-agency strategy due to Congress by January 1, 2026, and directs agencies to improve data sharing with foreign governments, expand an international firearms tracing program, and submit annual reports on export licenses, end-user verification, and trafficking disruption funding. These measures aim to combat the flow of illegal U.S. firearms fueling violence and organized crime across Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean.
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