Conservative and Libertarian Groups Urge Congress to Act After Supreme Court Decision

Conservative and Libertarian Groups Push Congress to Rein in Federal Agency Power After Supreme Court Decision

A coalition of 19 conservative and libertarian groups is urging congressional leaders to take action following a major Supreme Court decision that rolled back federal agency power. The coalition, led by Americans for Prosperity, sees this as a “generational opportunity” to rein in the federal bureaucracy.

The Supreme Court’s decision in June overturned Chevron deference, a doctrine that had compelled courts to defer to agencies’ interpretations of ambiguous statutes for the past 40 years. This marked a monumental victory for the conservative legal movement, and as President-elect Trump returns to the White House, Vivek Ramaswamy and Elon Musk have seized on the decision in their plans to slash federal regulations as co-heads of the newly formed “Department of Government Efficiency,” or DOGE.

In a letter to congressional leaders, the coalition proposed delegating less authority to agencies in future legislation, streamlining procedures for overturning federal regulations, and increasing agency oversight and hearings, among other steps. They argue that these efforts are necessary to prevent bureaucrats from regaining lost influence and undermining government by the people.

Americans for Prosperity, funded by Charles Koch, spearheaded the effort, with 18 other conservative groups including Americans for Tax Reform, Heritage Action, and the Competitive Enterprise Institute joining in. These groups had supported the Supreme Court challenge that led to the overturning of Chevron deference.

The Supreme Court’s 6-3 conservative majority ruled that courts must exercise independent judgment in deciding whether an agency has acted within its statutory authority, removing the deference that had given the federal bureaucracy sweeping power. This decision has been seen as a blow to the “administrative state” and a victory for anti-regulatory interests.

With the landscape of federal agency power shifting, these conservative and libertarian groups are calling on Congress to take action to ensure that the balance of power remains in check. This development is sure to have far-reaching implications for the future of regulatory policy in the United States.