By Mike StoneWASHINGTON (Reuters) - Congressional Democrats, including Senator Elizabeth Warren, again asked the U.S. Commerce Department to curb assault weapon exports and increase oversight of gun exports after a Trump-era rule change eased firearms export laws, according to a letter sent on Tuesday and seen by Reuters. The Commerce Department began a 90-day pause in an October order to assess the "risk of firearms being diverted to entities or activities that promote regional instability, violate human rights, or fuel criminal activities." The Commerce Department could decide to make the halt on export licenses permanent, return to previous practices, or impose other permanent restrictions. The letter, which was signed by Warren and Senator Richard Durbin as well as U.S. It voiced support for returning export authority oversight to the Department of State from Commerce - something which changed under then-President Donald Trump's tenure.

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Persons: Mike Stone WASHINGTON, Elizabeth Warren, Richard Durbin, Representatives Joaquin Castro, Norma Torres, Gina Raimondo, Donald Trump's, Mike Stone, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Congressional, U.S . Commerce Department, Reuters, The Commerce Department, Commerce Department, Warren, Representatives, Department of State from, Commerce Locations: Department of State from Commerce, Washington