President Trump late last week continued his pursuit of broad regulatory reform, targeting in a Feb. 24 order regulations that stifle job creation, impose unnecessary costs or are simply outdated or ineffective, according to an Executive Order issued Friday.
Trump directed all federal agencies, including the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, to establish a team to evaluate existing regs and make recommendations about regulations that need “repeal, replacement or modification,” the Executive Order states. The order refers to the teams as Regulatory Reform Task Forces. Nearly all federal agencies will be required to form a task force, to be made up of senior agency officials and others.
Trump also ordered federal agencies to appoint a so-called Regulatory Reform Officer within 60 days. The officer would head each agency’s regulatory task force. The RROs will also enforce other Trump orders targeting regulations, the order states.
“Each RRO shall oversee the implementation of regulatory reform initiatives and policies to ensure that agencies effectively carry out regulatory reforms,” Trump’s order states.
The regulatory task forces established by the order will seek input from state and local governments and businesses, consumers and trade associations, according to the order’s stipulations.
This is the third executive action pertaining to existing regulations Trump has issued since assuming the presidency Jan. 20. In his first week, Trump signed a regulatory freeze, halting federal agencies from publishing or enacting any new regulations for 60 days. Later, Trump signed an order telling federal agencies to remove two regulations for each new regulation enacted. That order already is facing a court challenge and logistical questions.
The American Trucking Associations in a statement about the two-for-one order said it supports a “judicious” approach “in eliminating or reversing regulations,” and that it is “a useful exercise” to periodically review regulations to ensure their relevancy.
Agencies’ task forces are required by the order to produce their first report on regulations within 90 days.