Current Issue

Executive Order Recissions

Executive Order (EO) 14148 rescinded 78 Biden administration EOs. Two notable orders that were rescinded include EO 14094 “Modernizing Regulatory Review,” which revised the definition of significant rules, and EO 13992, which had rescinded regulatory process EOs from the first Trump administration, including the two-for-one regulatory order.

Regulatory Freeze

President Trump issued a presidential memorandum ordering executive agencies not to propose or issue any rules until a new agency head reviews and approves the rule. The memorandum also directed agencies to withdraw rules that had been sent to the Office of the Federal Register but not published. Finally, the memorandum told agencies to delay the effective date for any rules published in the Federal Register but had not yet taken effect.

Presidential Actions on Energy Production

There were three major presidential documents targeting energy production. EO 14156 declares a national energy emergency. The EO, which applied to critical minerals, fossil fuels, nuclear, and biofuels, suspends Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, and siting permits and processes to expedite mineral and fuel production. 

President Trump also signed EO 14154, Unleashing American Energy, which was a similarly wide-ranging energy order. Specifically, the EO expands access to federal lands for certain forms of energy production; requires agency heads to review policies and regulations that may hinder energy production; and revokes many Biden-era climate policies including freezing funds to the congressionally-enacted Inflation Reduction Act and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. EO 14154 also revokes a previous EO that gave CEQ the authority to promulgate NEPA regulations. 

Finally, a presidential memorandum withdrew leases for offshore wind and required agencies to review leasing for wind on all federal land.

Federal Hiring Freeze

President Trump issued a memorandum to all agency heads mandating a hiring freeze for civilian positions across all agency departments. The memorandum applies irrespective of the appropriated funding; however, it does not apply to military, armed forces, or border security personnel.

Declaring a National Emergency at the Southern Border

President Trump issued a proclamation declaring a national emergency at the southern border due to illegal immigration. The proclamation deploys military forces to the southern border, orders the construction of additional physical barriers, and directs the Department of Transportation and the Federal Communications Commission to consider waiving restrictions on countering unmanned aerial systems in the area around the border.

Delay of Effective Date: Emergency Braking for Light Vehicles

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration delayed the effective date of a final rule that would require automatic emergency braking systems or pedestrian automatic emergency braking systems on all new light vehicles. Delayed until March 20. 

Delay of Effective Date: EPA Rules

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) delayed the effective date for four regulations pursuant to the presidential memorandum “Regulatory Freeze Pending Review.” One of the regulations delayed is EPA’s final rule regulating trichloroethylene (TCE) under the Toxic Substances Control Act. Delayed until March 21.