GOP readies blitz on Biden policies as Trump retakes White House – Washington Examiner
As President-elect Donald Trump prepares for his second inauguration, congressional Republicans are strategizing to repeal numerous regulations implemented during President Biden’s management. Utilizing the Congressional Review Act, they plan to revoke rules related to energy, environmental, and economic policies, requiring only a simple majority in both houses of Congress. Senate Majority Leader John Thune stated that they are actively reviewing which regulations fall within the eligible “lookback” period and are targeting various measures for repeal, although some, like Biden’s electric vehicle mandate, may be out of reach. specific resolutions are being proposed to undo bans on certain natural gas appliances and cryptocurrency regulations, with a strong desire to advance policies in line with Trump’s previous agenda. Moreover, House Republicans are exploring other legislative avenues to dismantle Biden’s regulatory initiatives. the GOP’s focus is on significantly rolling back regulations they see as burdensome to consumers and businesses.
Republicans ready blitz to revoke Biden policies as Trump retakes White House
Congressional Republicans are eyeing dozens of Biden administration regulations to roll back once President-elect Donald Trump is sworn in for his second term on Monday.
Needing only a simple majority in both chambers, Republicans are ready to revoke finalized Biden rules under the Congressional Review Act, particularly on energy, environmental, and economic policies.
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“We are scrubbing right now to determine what is eligible for that,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) said at an American Petroleum Institute event. “We are looking for lots of opportunities in that space.”
But in an early blow to their efforts, Thune conceded the policy many Republicans are most eager to kick to the curb will be out of reach: Biden’s electric vehicle mandate to phase out most new gas-powered vehicles.
Only regulations that fall within a certain “lookback” window, estimated to be from Aug. 16 until Biden’s last day in office by the liberal advocacy group Public Citizen, will be eligible to repeal.
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“There’s a certain look-back period, and it doesn’t fit within that. So, we’re not going to be able to use it there,” Thune said. “That was such a radical regulatory overreach, so we’re trying to figure out a way to roll that back.”
Still, Republicans are eyeing dozens of other CRA measures in the policy areas that align with Trump’s agenda. It’s a figure that could easily climb above 100 in the coming weeks, according to senators.
Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz (R-TX) plans to file three CRA resolutions to overturn Biden’s ban on certain natural gas hot water heaters, an IRS rule subjecting decentralized finance brokers handling cryptocurrencies to traditional securities reporting rules, and the Federal Communication Commission’s expansion of a subsidized internet program to provide students with Wi-Fi hot spots.
“The Department of Energy’s hot water heater rule is yet another manifestation of the Biden administration’s war on energy, directly driving up costs for consumers,” Cruz told the Washington Examiner. “Congress should rescind this rule and let consumers decide what kind of water heater they want for their homes.”
Rep. Gary Palmer (R-GA) introduced a similar resolution in the House.
The regulation for W-Fi hot spots, which Cruz said could expose students to online risks over a lack of guardrails on internet usage, is unlikely to fall within the lookback window for Congress to repeal it.
Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) is eyeing CRA resolutions that would reinstate more oil and natural gas lease sales on lands and in waters owned by the federal government.
“We’re looking at, and I’m assuming that President Trump will address this, restoring adherence to the law that there be oil and gas lease sales,” she said.
House Republicans have their sights set on another potential avenue to dismantle Biden’s regulatory agenda under the Midnight Rules Relief Act that would allow lawmakers to undo the regulations submitted in Biden’s final year in one large batch. However, that measure would be subject to the Senate’s filibuster and require Democratic support.
Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) emphasized the “fertile field” that Republicans have to work with under the CRA. Using Aug. 16 as the lookback window deadline, there are more than 1,200 regulations available for repeal using the CRA, and 100 of them are regarded as significant.
Kennedy estimated that he alone has a list of 50 CRA resolutions worth pursuing. Like other Republicans, he was reluctant to tip his hand until Senate leadership can better coordinate with the House and Trump.
The most immediate challenge facing Republicans is whittling down their list and working with the White House to determine which rules Trump can undo with executive orders.
First and foremost, the Senate will seek to confirm Trump’s Cabinet nominees, followed by passing government funding by a March 15 shutdown deadline. On top of that, Congress will only have a few months to capitalize on CRA measures.
In a new Congress, they may only be used after the first 15 legislative days but before the subsequent 60 legislative days, offering a rough time frame from late January to mid-May.
“The clock matters. The calendar matters. We have to race that while at the same time carrying a really heavy load of confirmations and [budget] reconciliation,” Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-ND) said. “It speaks to the importance of prioritizing which ones we have to get done, which ones we really want to get done, and which ones we would like to get done.”
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Republicans in the previous Congress successfully passed several CRA resolutions, even with a Democratic-controlled Senate. But they were all vetoed by Biden.
The GOP’s trifecta in Washington is presenting the rare opportunity to use CRA measures to successfully overturn regulations, something that has been done just 20 times, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service — one in the 107th Congress (2001-2002), 16 in the 115th Congress (2017-2018), and three in the 117th Congress (2021-2022).
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