The "ATF Improvement and Modernization Act of 2025," or the "AIM Act," aims to significantly enhance the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) enforcement capabilities regarding gun safety laws. It systematically repeals various legislative restrictions that have limited the agency's operational scope and data utilization, thereby removing obstacles to investigating firearms-related crimes and regulating federal firearms licensees. A major focus is the elimination of limitations relating to firearms trace data . The bill repeals several "Tiahrt Amendments" from past appropriations acts, which restricted the ATF's ability to collect, use, and share firearms trace information, allowing for more effective tracking of firearms used in crimes. It also removes the prohibition on using trace data to draw broad conclusions about firearms-related crime, enabling comprehensive research. The legislation also addresses record-keeping and inspection powers for federal firearms licensees (FFLs). It eliminates the prohibition on the Department of Justice from consolidating or centralizing FFL acquisition and disposition records, potentially enabling a national firearms registry. Furthermore, the bill repeals restrictions preventing the ATF from requiring physical inventories and removes limits on the frequency of record-keeping inspections, allowing for more thorough oversight. The bill also impacts NICS instant check records and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests . It eliminates the requirement that NICS instant check records be destroyed within 24 hours, allowing for their retention to aid investigations. The prohibition on processing FOIA requests concerning arson, explosives incidents, or firearm traces is also repealed, increasing transparency. The ATF's regulatory authority is expanded by eliminating prohibitions related to "curios or relics" and the importation of surplus military firearms , granting the agency more control. It also removes the prohibition on denying an FFL application due to a lack of business activity, ensuring licensees are genuinely engaged in the firearms business. The ability to search computerized records of out-of-business FFLs by name is restored, streamlining investigations. Crucially, the bill amends the standards for federal firearms license revocation and eligibility . It revises the standard for FFL revocation from "willfully" to "knowingly" violating the law, making it easier for the ATF to revoke licenses. Additionally, it eliminates "de novo" review for FFL revocation appeals and restricts evidence considered to only that previously submitted, strengthening ATF enforcement actions against non-compliant dealers.