President Trump issued 400% fewer major regulations than Obama did in his final year

Michael Bastasch, DCNF

President Donald Trump’s administration has issued about 400 percent fewer major regulations in its first year than the previous presidential administration did during its final year, according to government data.

Federal agencies published 119 major regulations in 2016, former President Barack Obama’s final year in office. Only 29 major rules were published since Trump took office in Jan. 2017, noted Sam Batkins, who formerly worked as a regulatory expert at the American Action Forum.

The ink isn't dry on 2016, but it looks like there was roughly a 400%(!) decline in major regulation from 2016 levels under Trump Admin: https://t.co/woolqMPUhu

— Sam Batkins (@sambatkins) January 3, 2018

Since 1/24/2017: 29 major rules.
In 2016, there were 119.

— Sam Batkins (@sambatkins) January 3, 2018

Major regulations are those expected to cost the economy at least $100 million and must be submitted to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) before they can take effect.

Batkins compiled his figures based on rules filed with GAO, but does not count many of the “midnight” rules Obama agencies issued in the days leading up to Trump’s inauguration.

The 1/24/2017 start excludes major midnight regs.

— Sam Batkins (@sambatkins) January 3, 2018

Trump made cutting regulations a major priority for his first year in office, signing orders to set up committees at federal agencies to identify rules to get rid of or streamline and to cut two regulations for every new one imposed.

The White House recently announced they’d withdrawn 635 regulations, made 244 inactive and delayed another 700 for a compliance savings of $8.1 billion. Trump said deregulatory efforts would continue into 2018 and asked officials to cut three regulations for every new one issued.

Indeed, many of the regulatory cuts have angered liberal groups, especially environmentalists. Trump has undone Obama-era regulations on oil and gas drilling and even repealed the former president’s signature global warming rule.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the repeal of the Clean Power Plan (CPP) in October, that would have forced more coal-fired power plants to shut down. The EPA said repealing the rule would save $33 billion in avoided regulatory costs.

Follow Michael on Facebook and Twitter

The Daily Caller News Foundation is working hard to balance out the biased American media. For as little as $3, you can help us. Freedom of speech isn’t free. Make a one-time donation to support the quality, independent journalism of TheDCNF. We’re not dependent on commercial or political support and we do not accept any government funding.

For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.

DONATE TO BIZPAC REVIEW

Please help us! If you are fed up with letting radical big tech execs, phony fact-checkers, tyrannical liberals and a lying mainstream media have unprecedented power over your news please consider making a donation to BPR to help us fight them. Now is the time. Truth has never been more critical!