Trump, Republicans Move Quickly to Roll Back Biden-Era Regulations
In their first 100 days with control of both chambers of Congress, Republicans — with support from President Donald Trump — have reversed seven regulations introduced under President Joe Biden. Most of the repealed rules were related to the energy sector, which the GOP argues have placed unnecessary burdens on producers and driven up consumer costs. According to a report published Friday, even more rollbacks are expected soon.
The Washington Times reported that the regulations already repealed include:
An Environmental Protection Agency rule imposing a methane emission fee on oil and natural gas facilities that Republicans say has stymied domestic energy production.
A requirement that new oil and gas leaseholders on the outer continental shelf submit an archaeological report before they can begin offshore drilling production.
Two Energy Department rules requiring higher energy efficiency standards for gas-fired hot water heaters and walk-in coolers and freezers.
Republicans in Congress are pushing to rescind several more Biden-era regulations before the period for streamlined action closes. Under the Congressional Review Act (CRA), lawmakers can quickly overturn executive branch rules — but the special fast-track process is only available for a limited time.
Most Biden-era rules will reach that deadline next month. After that, although CRA resolutions can still be considered, they would lose procedural protections in the Senate, making them vulnerable to filibusters.
In February, Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) published a list of 10 Biden administration rules targeted for repeal. So far, joint House and Senate resolutions have overturned five from Scalise’s list, along with two additional regulations not originally mentioned.
Three more CRA resolutions — including two from Scalise’s list — have passed the House and are awaiting Senate action. The Times noted that Trump has already signed three CRA repeals into law, with four others that have passed both chambers still pending formal delivery to his desk.
The first two regulations Trump signed into law in March focused on the oil and gas sector.
One repeal targeted the EPA’s methane emission fee, part of the Democrats’ Inflation Reduction Act. This fee was intended to pressure oil and gas companies to cut emissions, starting at $900 per metric ton of methane in 2024 and rising to $1,500 by 2026.
Republicans are also seeking to repeal the broader underlying law via a party-line budget reconciliation bill, pointing out that simply removing the rule now does not prevent a future administration from reinstating it.
Trump also signed off on repealing the requirement for archaeological reporting before offshore drilling activities could begin.
The third CRA repeal signed into law dealt with the crypto industry, which Trump heavily courted during his 2024 campaign. This resolution nullified an IRS rule that categorized decentralized finance (DeFi) exchanges as brokers obligated to monitor and report user activity. As the outlet explained, industry leaders argued that the regulation was impractical because DeFi platforms operate without intermediaries and thus cannot track users.
Additionally, four more CRA resolutions that have cleared both chambers are awaiting Trump’s signature, according to the Times.
House Republicans have also advanced CRA measures aimed at scrapping energy consumption limits on commercial refrigerators and freezers, along with certification, labeling, and enforcement standards for 20 different appliances such as dishwashers, washing machines, central air conditioners, and heat pumps.
These measures still require Senate approval, and it appears Republicans plan to send all four appliance-related rollbacks to the president together.
Trump has yet to receive CRA resolutions repealing two regulations issued by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. One would cancel new rules for digital payment platforms like Venmo and PayPal, which handle over 50 million consumer transactions annually, while the other would overturn a rule capping overdraft fees charged by banks, the Times reported.