Staff Reports
As the Trump administration makes strides to prune the ever-expanding federal bureaucracy, a sudden halt to operations at agencies like the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has raised eyebrows. This agency, birthed from the mind of radical-left senator Elizabeth Warren, has been a notorious bastion of overregulation. The recent actions taken against the CFPB’s leadership demonstrate a clear intention to rein in excess, but they come with a caveat: the unfinished business left behind by the previous administration.
President Trump’s bold move to uproot the CFPB’s former head, Rohit Chopra, was followed swiftly by a freeze on funding for the agency. While this might seem like the perfect opportunity to close the doors on this bureaucratic behemoth, there are still lingering Biden-era regulations that stand to wreak havoc if left untouched. The landscape is littered with proposals waiting for the axe, and the Congressional Review Act serves as a potential lifeline for conservatives who wish to dismantle the last vestiges of the Obama-Biden regulatory state.
A report from the law firm Davis Wright Tremaine LLP sheds light on the CFPB’s lingering actions. Among them is a final rule prohibiting the inclusion of medical bills on credit reports, a move that many believe undermines personal responsibility. This rule became official just before Trump’s inauguration, and without congressional action to rescind it, it could slip through the cracks into full effect—much to the chagrin of anyone who values fiscal accountability.
The report highlights more red tape awaiting scrutiny, including restrictions on financing for energy-efficient property improvements. These rules, published just as the new year rolled in, are slippery slopes towards expanded governmental control over private transactions. What’s abundantly clear is that the clock is ticking, and Congress must act decisively to rescind these regulations before they become entrenched in law.
Not So Fast! Precipitous Agency Shutdowns Could Let Biden-Era Regulations Slip Through the Cracks.https://t.co/PrDoyyDCbW
— RedState (@RedState) February 11, 2025
The desire to downsize the federal government is noble, but caution is warranted. Rushing to shutter agencies without assessing existing regulations could backfire. One isn’t simply deconstructing a bloated bureaucracy; one is also ensuring that no insidious regulations sneak in through the back door. A careful approach is needed to navigate the complex regulatory landscape leftover from previous administrations.
Ultimately, trimming back the federal footprint cannot be hastened to the point of neglecting the effective management of its consequences. The warmth of a fiscal conservatism that emphasizes individual liberty and personal responsibility should not be lost in the fervor to eliminate the unnecessary. With each regulatory booby trap, there lies an opportunity for lawmakers to reassess and reshape the policies that govern American life. Ensuring that the past doesn’t dictate the future is a task that deserves serious attention and a steady hand.
