There are two main areas in which Congress can enact meaningful reform. The first is to rein in regulatory guidance documents, which we refer to as “regulatory dark matter,” whereby agencies regulate through Federal Register notices, guidance documents, and other means outside standard rulemaking procedure. The second is to enact a series of reforms to increase agency transparency and accountability of all regulation and guidance. These include annual regulatory report cards for rulemaking agencies and regulatory cost estimates from the Office of Management and Budget for more than just a small subset of rules.
In 2019, President Trump signed two executive orders aimed at stopping the practice of agencies using guidance documents to effectively implement policy without going through the legally required notice and comment process.
Featured Posts
Blog
The week in regulations: Cable television rates and estate sales
President Trump announced an easing of vehicle fuel economy standards. Netflix struck a deal to buy Warner Bros. and HBO. The Defense Secretary is in…
Blog
Free the Economy podcast: Balancing the budget with Kurt Couchman
In this week’s episode we talk about our 150th episode anniversary party, the documentary Dear Mr. President: The Letters of Julia…
Blog
Stop the snapback: Congress can make small-business deregulation stick
This week, CEI sent a letter to Congress urging the House to pass Rep. Beth Van Duyne’s (R-TX) H.R. 2965, the Small Business…
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Blog
This Week in Ridiculous Regulations
Last week, people got worked up over hamburgers and a television commercial about razors. Meanwhile the partial federal shutdown continued, and a bill to introduce…
National Law Review
Think-Tank Calls for RFS Repeal
The National Law Review cited CEI’s Agenda for the 116th Congress: On January 8, 2019, the Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI), a non-profit…
News Release
CEI Asks Court to Invalidate the FCC’s Costly Conditions on 2016 Charter Cable Merger
The Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI) and four cable customers yesterday filed the opening brief in their challenge to the wide-ranging conditions imposed by the FCC…
Forbes
If the Government Shutdown Falls Short of Armageddon, We Should Rethink the Other 75 Percent Too
If the longest-ever partial (25%) federal government shutdown persists, might Americans catch on that not everything the federal government does and regulates should remain national…
Blog
This Week in Ridiculous Regulations
On Saturday the partial government shutdown became the longest ever. The news cycle was wall-to-wall wall and shutdown coverage, though Rep. Sean Duffy (R-WI) introduced…
The American Spectator
Is DOJ Undermining Trump’s Commitment to Drain the Swamp?
The American Spectator cited Senior Fellow Michelle Minton on online betting and the Department of Justice: Michelle Minton of the Competitive Enterprise Institute,…
JDSupra
A Year-End Regulatory Report Card
JDSupra cited CEI’s Agenda for the 116th Congress. With the close of 2018, the Competitive Enterprise Institute released a report asking “how is…
Reason
The DOJ Shouldn’t Reignite the Fight Against Intrastate Gambling
Reason cited research by Senior Fellow Michelle Minton on state gambling regulations and the Department of Justice. Research into a history of the Wire…
The Washington Examiner
Oil and Ethanol Industries Renew Hostilities Over Mandate
The Washington Examiner cited CEI’s Agenda for Congress, regarding the EPA’s ethanol mandate: The mandate requires refiners to blend a range of biofuels…
The Washington Times
Go Ahead and Prosper
The Washington Times cited President Kent Lassman and CEI’s report, Free to Prosper: A Pro-Growth Agenda for the 116th Congress: The Competitive Enterprise…
Blog
Agenda for the 116th Congress: Regulatory Reform
The first chapter in the new Competitive Enterprise Institute agenda for Congress, “Free to Prosper,” is on regulatory reform. Most of the Agenda is about reforming…
Forbes
Working Together, We Can Keep Country People off the Internet (Just Kidding; Jumpstart 5G This Way)
A buddy of mine living in Charlottesville was wishing for more subsidized rail to travel to Washington. I told him it was cheaper for me…
Daily Caller
Conservatives Give Congress their Top Ten Energy Priorities for 2019
The Daily Caller cited CEI’s report, Free to Prosper: A Pro-Growth Agenda for the 116th Congress: Free-market think tank the Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI)…
The Washington Examiner
CEI Warns Lawmakers that a ‘Green New Deal’ Would Risk a Humanitarian Crisis
The Washington Examiner cited CEI’s latest report, Free to Prosper: A Pro-Growth Agenda for the 116th Congress and Director of the Center for Energy and Environment, Myron Ebell:…
The Washington Times
‘Free to Prosper’: Competitive Enterprise Institute Offers Congress A Pro-Growth Agenda
The Washington Times cited CEI’s latest report, Free to Prosper: A Pro-Growth Agenda for the 116th Congress: The Competitive Enterprise Institute has released a handy…
Blog
A Free-Market Agenda for the 116th Congress
After a contentious election season, we look forward to the nation’s elected representatives rolling up their sleeves and getting to work. Divided party control in…
News Release
CEI Offers Plan for Congress to Reform Regulations, Help America Prosper
Today the Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI) offered a set of ambitious, achievable regulatory reform goals for the 116th Congress.
Blog
This Week in Ridiculous Regulations
Right now is a weird time for regulation. The shutdown has lasted for several business days, and the Federal Register has slowed to a trickle.
The Washington Free Beacon
Trump’s Deregulatory Agenda Still Rolling, but Pace Slows Slightly
The Washington Free Beacon cited CEI’s report by Vice President for Policy Clyde Wayne Crews on President Trump’s deregulatory efforts. While the number of…
The Washington Examiner
Trump Issues Fewest Regulations Ever, ‘Unconstitutionality Index’ Reaches Record Low
The Washington Examiner cited Vice President for Policy Clyde Wayne Crews on President Trump and regulatory reform. “At year-end 2018, how is President…
Products
Free to Prosper: Regulatory Reform
View the full chapter on regulatory reform here All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United…
Blog
The 2019 Unconstitutionality Index
Even in an administration attempting to cut regulation, the number of rules from hundreds of federal agencies (nobody really knows exactly how many) will vastly outstrip the…
Blog
Trump’s 2018 Deregulatory Effort: 3,367 Rules, 68,082 Pages
At year-end 2018, how is President Donald Trump’s regulatory reform project going?…
Blog
This Week in Ridiculous Regulations
The shutdown continued all through Christmas week. But because the Federal Register works on a few days lag for many of its publications, it still…
Blog
VIDEO: What Qualifies as a ‘Water’ of the United States?
Our friends at the Regulatory Transparency Project have created a great new video to help explain the legal impact of the Clean Water Act and…
Blog
An Executive Order to Shine Light on Dark Matter
Over at The Hill, Wayne Crews and I make the case for an executive order that would limit executive power. It’s more plausible than it…
The Hill
How to Rein in Regulatory Dark Matter
Divisive hot-button issues are distracting public attention from policy reforms that could make everyone better off by expanding the economy. One of these is regulatory…
Blog
This Week in Ridiculous Regulations
In an eventful week that included criminal justice reform, shutdown drama, and cabinet drama, this year’s new regulations exceeded 2017’s total with more than a…
AEI
The Supreme Court May Begin to Tame the Administrative State
AEI cited Vice President for Policy Wayne Crews on administrative rulemaking. In addition, Chevron helped enable a vast expansion of administrative rule making. Since 1993,…
Blog
Best Books of 2018: Judicial Fortitude
My pick for one of the best books of this year is “Judicial Fortitude: The Last Chance to Rein in the Administrative State” (Encounter Books,…
Cayman Financial Review
Judicial Fortitude: The Last Chance To Rein In the Administrative State, by Peter Wallison
Peter Wallison is a rarity in public life. He has been both a high-level government official in the administration of President Ronald Reagan and a…
Blog
This Week in Ridiculous Regulations
A partial federal shutdown looks more likely than it did a week ago, the federal deficit will likely top $1 trillion next year, and Theresa…
The Wall Street Journal
The Supreme Court May Begin to Tame the Administrative State
The Wall Street Journal cited Vice President for Policy and Senior Fellow Wayne Crews on the Supreme Court’s decision to review deference to the administrative state.
Forbes
Here’s a Year-End Roundup of White House and Federal Agency Efforts to Streamline Guidance Documents
President Donald Trump’s executive actions aimed at slowing the pace of new regulation and eliminating existing ones (the first part was easier) continued in 2018.
News Release
Supreme Court Agrees to Reconsider Deference to Agency’s Interpretation of Regulations
Today, the Supreme Court agreed to consider overturning Auer (or Seminole Rock) deference in a case called Kisor v. Wilkie. Under Auer (or Seminole Rock)…
Forbes
Lame Duck Update: Here’s How the 115th Congress Tried to Streamline Agency Guidance Documents
Despite surprisingly deep bipartisan pedigree of significant regulatory reforms and proposals of the past, few Democrats in the 115th Congress were inclined to work with Republicans and President Trump…
Blog
This Week in Ridiculous Regulations
Former President George H.W. Bush was laid to rest, and no Federal Register was published on Wednesday. President Trump created a new superhero, Tariff Man,…
Watertown Public Opinion
Deregulation Contributing to Growing Economy
Watertown Public Opinion cited CEI on the cost of regulations. Trump promised to reduce regulations for small and big businesses. While much has…
Blog
This Week in Ridiculous Regulations
In the news, The new NAFTA was signed (but still needs legislative approval in all three countries), General Motors announced major layoffs and plant closures,…
IA InsideARM
Senate Vote On Kraninger To Lead BCFP Expected Tomorrow
IA InsideARM cited CEI’s Senior Fellow John Berlau and Policy Analyst Daniel Press on BCFP nominee Kathleen Kraninger. As insideARM reported earlier,…
The Washington Times
Free-Market Group Calls On Senate To Confirm Kathleen Kraninger To Lead Consumer Bureau
The Washington Times cited CEI’s Policy Analyst Daniel Press on BCFP nominee, Kathleen Kraninger. A conservative free-enterprise group urged the Senate Wednesday to…
The Florida Times-Union
Sunday Editorial: Be Smart With Federal Regulations
The Florida Times-Union cited CEI on the federal regulatory state. But regulations serve little purpose when they are unnecessary, encourage crony capitalism or…
Blog
This Week in Ridiculous Regulations
It was another short work week due to Thanksgiving, while Black Friday’s ritual tramplings put a damper on that day’s productivity. Last week agencies published…
Blog
This Week in Ridiculous Regulations
It was a short work week due to Veterans Day, as most Americans took time to reflect on the centenary of the World War I…
Washington Examiner
Self-Driving Car Bill’s Backers Seek Senate Vote Before It’s Too Late
Washington Examiner cited CEI’s Senior Fellow Marc Scribner on self-driving vehicle regulatory framework. Lawmakers and American car manufacturers are mounting a last-ditch effort…
The Daily Caller
ACLU Criticized For Suggesting Title IX Proposal ‘Inappropriately’ Favors The Accused
The Daily Caller cited CEI’s Senior Fellow Marc Scribdner on ACLU stance towards DOE’s Title IX reform. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is…
The Hill
Time For A Regulatory Budget
The Hill cited CEI on the burden of federal regulations. America’s regulatory burden has thrived in solitude because it’s uncounted, and therefore uncontrolled.The…
News Release
New FDA Rules on E-Cigarettes Will Limit Adult Smokers’ Access to Safer Alternatives
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today announced new regulations restricting the sale of flavored e-cigarettes. The new rules would restrict sales at convenience stores…
Reason
Trump Brags About Deregulation, But A Huge Number Of His Deregulatory Actions Were Started Under Obama
Reason cited CEI’s Senior Fellow Wayne Crews on Trump deregulation policy. President Donald Trump likes to brag about his record of cutting regulations.
Liberty Unyielding
Protectionism Kills Jobs And Candidacies
Liberty Unyielding cited CEI on Trumps deregulation policy. In the 2016 election, the GOP benefited from farm-state opposition to the Obama administration’s bureaucratic…
Staff & Scholars
Clyde Wayne Crews
Fred L. Smith Fellow in Regulatory Studies
- Business and Government
- Consumer Freedom
- Deregulation
Ryan Young
Senior Economist
- Antitrust
- Business and Government
- Regulatory Reform
Fred L. Smith, Jr.
Founder; Chairman Emeritus
- Automobiles and Roads
- Aviation
- Business and Government
Sam Kazman
Counsel Emeritus
- Antitrust
- Automobiles and Roads
- Banking and Finance
Marlo Lewis, Jr.
Senior Fellow
- Climate
- Energy
- Energy and Environment