President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Wednesday night aimed at reducing regulations and enforcement measures that his administration believes have exceeded their statutory authority. This move aligns with Trump's focus on deregulation and shrinking the federal government, a goal championed by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) led by Elon Musk.
The executive order instructs federal agencies to identify regulations that are deemed unconstitutional or that raise significant constitutional concerns by exceeding the federal government's powers as outlined in the Constitution. Agencies have been given a 60-day deadline to pinpoint regulations based on unlawful delegations of legislative power and those with costs that outweigh their public benefits.
Agency heads will collaborate with the Office of Management and Budget's regulatory affairs office to develop plans for amending or rolling back these regulations. Additionally, the order mandates that agencies de-emphasize enforcement actions related to regulations that surpass the federal government's constitutional authority.
However, the executive order includes exemptions for regulations tied to military, national security, homeland security, foreign affairs, or immigration functions, recognizing the importance of these areas.
This executive order reflects President Trump's ongoing efforts to streamline government regulations and reduce what his administration perceives as regulatory overreach. The order sets the stage for a comprehensive review and potential revision of existing regulations to align them more closely with constitutional boundaries and public benefit considerations.
