Trump Wants Fewer Regulations, Calls Out Manufacturing

President Trump signed an executive order on Monday to drastically reduce the regulatory burden on U.S. businesses, requiring federal agencies to effectively eliminate at least two regulations for each new one issued.

This came days after a Jan. 24 order specific to manufacturing regulations, calling for expedited review and approval of proposals to build or expand manufacturing plants and reduce regulatory burdens on domestic manufacturing.

The Jan. 24 order directs Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross, who was confirmed after the order was issued, to conduct outreach to learn more about the impact of federal regulations on manufacturers. The feedback will inform the process to “streamline permitting and reduce regulatory burdens for domestic manufacturers.”

Ross will conduct the outreach work in cooperation with the USDA and the Small Business Administration, among other federal agencies.

In the order issued Monday, Trump said: “We have to knock out a regulation for every two, but it goes far beyond that.”

This “one in–two out” campaign promise specifically states that prior regulations must be “identified for elimination” when a new rule is put forward.

The 900-word order makes clear that the costs associated with new regulations each year cannot increase. They would have to be offset by eliminating “costs associated with at least two prior regulations.”

For fiscal 2017, Trump told agency heads that the total cost of new regulations finalized this year “shall be no greater than zero” unless otherwise directed.

“It is essential to manage the costs associated with the governmental imposition of private expenditures required to comply with federal regulations,” the document also states.

“We will begin efforts to reduce federal regulations. We’ll be reducing them big time,” Trump said in concluding a White House meeting with small business owners before signing the order.

The military, national security and foreign affairs are exempt from the order, which puts the Office of Management and Budget in charge of the changes.

Source: Fox News, White House Press Office