Supreme Court Limits Federal Regulatory Powers by Overturning Chevron
The Supreme Court has overturned the 40-year-old Chevron decision, which had allowed federal agencies to interpret ambiguous laws, thus facilitating the regulation of environmental, public health, workplace safety, and consumer protections. This landmark ruling came in response to cases brought by Atlantic herring fishermen in New Jersey and Rhode Island who challenged a fee requirement. The overturning of Chevron could potentially lead to billions of dollars in legal challenges.
The court's decision was supported by conservative and business interests, who argue that the Chevron doctrine granted excessive power to federal agencies. The current Supreme Court, with a 6-3 conservative majority, has been increasingly skeptical of the powers of federal agencies. This ruling follows previous decisions by the court to rein in environmental regulations and initiatives from the Biden administration. Critics of the decision argue that it shifts too much authority to judges and diminishes the role of experts in government agencies.
