In First 100 Days, GOP Slashes Biden-Era Energy and Regulatory Rules—with Trump’s Backing
In their first 100 days controlling both chambers of Congress, Republicans have aggressively rolled back seven Biden-era regulations—many targeting energy policies they argue have burdened producers and driven up consumer prices. Backed by President Donald Trump, the GOP is signaling that more regulatory reversals are on the horizon, according to a Friday report by The Washington Times.
So far, Republican lawmakers have used the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to dismantle:
- An EPA rule imposing methane emission fees on oil and gas facilities—fees critics say stifle domestic energy production.
- A mandate requiring offshore oil and gas leaseholders to submit archaeological surveys before drilling.
- Two Department of Energy regulations mandating stricter efficiency standards for gas-powered water heaters and large commercial refrigeration units.
“House Republicans are leveraging the Congressional Review Act to support President Trump in undoing the damage of the Biden Administration’s war on American energy,” House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said after one rule’s repeal.
The clock is ticking: Congress has only until next month to use the CRA’s fast-track process to overturn additional rules before the window closes. After that, repeals would face Senate filibusters and a steeper path to passage.
In February, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) unveiled a target list of 10 Biden regulations. Since then, Congress has overturned five of them—plus two additional rules not on the original list. Three more CRA resolutions have cleared the House and await Senate action.
Trump has already signed three of these rollbacks into law, including:
- The repeal of the EPA’s methane fee, enacted through the Inflation Reduction Act, which would have charged oil and gas firms $900 per metric ton of methane emissions in 2024, rising to $1,500 by 2026.
- A repeal of the offshore drilling archaeological survey requirement, long criticized by industry groups as an unnecessary hurdle to energy development.
- The rollback of an IRS rule classifying decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms as “brokers”, a move cheered by crypto advocates who say DeFi exchanges can’t feasibly comply with reporting requirements due to their decentralized nature.
Four more CRA resolutions that have cleared both the House and Senate are pending Trump’s signature, The Times reported.
House Republicans have also advanced resolutions to eliminate:
- Energy use limits for commercial refrigerators and freezers.
- Regulatory requirements for 20 household appliances, including washing machines, dishwashers, and HVAC systems.
These measures still need Senate approval, but lawmakers are expected to bundle them for efficient transmission to the president.
Meanwhile, two additional CRA rollbacks targeting Consumer Financial Protection Bureau rules are also in play—one scrapping oversight of digital payment apps like PayPal and Venmo, and another nixing a cap on bank overdraft fees.
With their bicameral majority and the White House on their side, Republicans are pushing to reshape federal regulatory policy while the legislative clock is still in their favor.
