Republicans Accelerate Deregulatory Agenda Using Loophole to Bypass Senate Filibuster

The New York Times reports that Republicans in Congress are aggressively using the 1996 Congressional Review Act (CRA) to reverse Biden-era regulations, from pollution oversight to energy efficiency standards on freezers and water heaters. The law permits Congress to overturn recent federal rules with a simple majority vote—bypassing the Senate filibuster.

Having employed the same strategy in 2017 during President Trump’s first term, Republicans are now testing the boundaries of the CRA to expedite rollbacks amid their unified control of the House, Senate, and White House.

Democrats warn the maneuver could undermine long-standing Senate rules, as it allows major policy shifts without the usual 60-vote threshold.

The GOP’s interpretation of the CRA may reshape how future regulations are challenged, potentially eroding the legislative filibuster’s influence over policymaking.

Source(s)

• New York Times – MBFC Rating