Trump Mandates Regulatory Overhaul Based on Supreme Court Rulings

In a recent move, President Trump has ordered federal agencies to repeal regulations deemed unlawful based on ten Supreme Court decisions, promoting a streamlined approach to governance.

In a pivotal development designed to enhance the efficiency of federal governance, President Donald J. Trump has announced a Presidential Memorandum that instructs all executive departments and agencies to identify and repeal regulations considered unlawful under ten recent significant Supreme Court rulings. This directive serves as an extension of Executive Order 14219, “Ensuring Lawful Governance and Implementing the President’s ‘Department Of Government Efficiency’ Deregulatory Initiative,” signed on February 19, 2025.

Emphasizing the importance of aligning regulatory frameworks with constitutional limits reaffirmed by the Supreme Court, the memorandum points to crucial rulings such as West Virginia v. EPA, Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo, and SEC v. Jarkesy, which have restrained expansive agency authority and highlighted the necessity of adhering strictly to legislative mandates.

To expedite this repeal process, the memorandum allows agencies to use the “good cause” exception under the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) to bypass the standard notice-and-comment rulemaking process when abolishing regulations that conflict with the referenced Supreme Court decisions. This strategy seeks to efficiently eliminate unlawful regulations without bureaucratic delays.

Alongside this initiative, President Trump has tasked the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) with leading a government-wide effort to rescind or adapt federal regulations that may stifle competition, entrepreneurship, and innovation. This effort extends beyond the FTC’s traditional reach, addressing all federal regulations with potential anticompetitive effects, thus fostering a more vibrant and competitive economic landscape.

Federal agencies are now required to undergo a 60-day review period to evaluate existing regulations in light of the specified Supreme Court decisions. After this evaluation, agencies must take immediate action to repeal or amend regulations that overstep statutory authority or are otherwise illegal. This unified initiative illustrates the administration's determination to ensure that federal regulations adhere to constitutional and legislative frameworks.

President Trump’s directive signifies a notable transition toward reaffirming the rule of law within federal regulatory practices. By synchronizing agency operations with recent Supreme Court rulings and hastening the repeal of unlawful regulations, the administration aims to cultivate a more responsible and constitutionally grounded federal framework.