Report: Trump Halted $181 Billion in Regulatory Costs on First Day in Office

Washington Free Beacon ^ | 1/31/17 | Elizabeth Harrington

[markomalley]

In one of his first acts as president, Donald Trump effectively halted nearly $200 billion worth of regulations, according to a new analysis.

President Trump has taken aggressive action to curb regulations in his first week, promising to cut 75 percent or "maybe more," and signing an executive order Monday to cut two regulations from the books when every new rule is introduced.

The first move came in the form of a memo to all federal agencies from Chief of Staff Reince Priebus, freezing all recently finalized and pending regulations. The American Action Forum, a center-right policy institute, found the action resulted in stopping rules that would cost the economy $181 billion.

"On day one in office, President Trump’s Chief of Staff, Reince Priebus, signed a memo to all executive agencies imposing a regulatory moratorium," wrote Sam Batkins, director of regulatory policy for the American Action Forum. "This may sound like an extraordinary action, but President Obama’s then-Chief of Staff, Rahm Emanuel, penned an almost identical memo eight years ago."

"According to American Action Forum (AAF) research, this memo put a hold on $181 billion in total regulatory costs, including $17 billion in annual costs, and 5.5 million hours of paperwork," Batkins wrote. "This moratorium freezes 22 rulemakings with annual costs above $100 million and 16 measures with more than $1 billion in long-term costs."

The Trump administration memo stopped the publication of new rules in the Federal Register, withdrew regulations that were sent for formal publication so they can be reviewed, and postponed recently finalized regulations for 60 days.

The American Action Forum found 206 rules that are subject to the administration memo, including five major rules that will likely be scaled back or withdrawn altogether.

One rule halted was the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Department of Transportation's plan to mandate all new cars, vans, and SUVs install technology that would share their speed and brake status information with nearby vehicles.

The Vehicle-to-Vehicle Communications rule would have cost an estimated $108 billion. The regulation is in its beginning stages, with plans to finalize in 2019.

The American Action Forum said the Trump administration "will almost surely veto" any attempt to move the regulation to the final-rule stage.

Other costly regulations that were pushed through in the final days of the Obama administration are also likely to not move forward. A $12.3 billion final regulation imposing stricter energy rules for air conditioners can be withdrawn if it received opposing comments, a "virtual certainty," the American Action Forum said.

Additionally, new efficiency standards for furnaces that cost $9.2 billion, and efficiency standards for battery chargers costing $4.6 billion, have been put on hold.

A $5.7 billion rule stemming from Obamacare that includes addressing "discriminatory behavior by healthcare providers that may create real or perceived barriers to care" in rural hospitals is also likely subject to the freeze.

The Environmental Protection Agency has already frozen 30 regulations in response to the memo, including the Renewable Fuels Standard, which would have cost $1.5 billion.

The American Action Forum concluded the Trump administration's regulatory freeze could have a major impact given the record amount of rules President Obama pushed while in office and during his final days in the White House.

"The regulatory moratorium from Reince Priebus was anything but an extreme measure. It is standard operating procedure for a new president to take stock of the existing regulatory landscape," Batkins said. "What was extraordinary was that the previous administration had $181 billion in regulatory burdens, 16 billion-dollar rules, and millions of hours of new paperwork pending in the system."

"It’s unlikely the regulatory freeze lasts for longer than a few months, but it’s a certainty that the administration will scrutinize all pending major rules and determine those that adequately protect public health and safety and those that could harm economic growth," Batkins added.

[Fresh Wind]

One rule halted was the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Department of Transportation's plan to mandate all new cars, vans, and SUVs install technology that would share their speed and brake status information with nearby vehicles.

So, that means that the cop would not even have to put down her donut to issue you a ticket. Thank God that little bit of tyranny has been blocked, if only for a while.

[exDemMom]

My... it seems that a lot of these new rules and regulations are written just for the sake of writing new rules and regulations.

One rule halted was the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Department of Transportation's plan to mandate all new cars, vans, and SUVs install technology that would share their speed and brake status information with nearby vehicles.

For what purpose? To save drivers the effort of paying attention to traffic around them? Is introducing expensive technology to make people more inattentive and stupid really a good thing? I've seen ads for cars that automatically sense traffic situations ahead and suddenly brake; couldn't such unexpected braking cause injury to people who weren't expecting the car to suddenly stop? And what about situations where braking is not the best course, but swerving is? Would the brakes suddenly activate just as the driver is starting to swerve, potentially causing an accident?

A $5.7 billion rule stemming from Obamacare that includes addressing "discriminatory behavior by healthcare providers that may create real or perceived barriers to care" in rural hospitals is also likely subject to the freeze.

And that means what, exactly? It sounds like a scheme to require hospital employees to spend even more time on various "diversity" and other feelings-based training, which cuts down on their productivity. I doubt that the number of jobs created in the feelings-based training industry comes even close to the loss in productivity caused by the training. This regulation does not deserve to see the light of day.

"It’s unlikely the regulatory freeze lasts for longer than a few months, but it’s a certainty that the administration will scrutinize all pending major rules and determine those that adequately protect public health and safety and those that could harm economic growth," Batkins added.

That's a good first step. Ideally, every regulation on the books should be reviewed. In the days leading up to the inauguration, President Trump said that he would require two regulations be revoked for every new regulation--that may have been the most important item on his agenda. I'm certainly looking forward to it.

[Liz]

Trump needs to get ex-Sen George McGovern (onetime prez candidate) to comment on this.

BACKSTORY-—McG decided to buy a hotel in retirement to have a reliable income....but had to declare bankruptcy.

His hotel simply could not keep up w/ the regulations HE passed.....and still remain solvent.

McG said, at the time it seemed like a good idea for the Senate to regulate this and that.....but that he had no idea the burdens this placed on small businesses like his.

[octex]

Thanks for the backstory on McGov. I’d not previously heard about that.

[Fresh Wind]

My... it seems that a lot of these new rules and regulations are written just for the sake of writing new rules and regulations.

Yes, the most important thing is to keep the rule writers employed, and their agency empires funded. Note that many of these new rules are accompanied by dire predictions of death and disaster if the rules are not enacted, all meant to sway Congress in their direction at budget time.

[usual suspect]

A 16 year girl was killed on the way to school in the morning last month. She was hit by another 16 year old girl driving to school. I, for one, would like to see technology that would disable texting in a moving automobile. Just sayin”

[marktwain]

“For what purpose? To save drivers the effort of paying attention to traffic around them?”

Most likely to make the use of autonomous vehicles easier and more efficient.

I expect it will happen though the market. The advantages of autonomous vehicles, the savings in accidents and time, will be enormous.

[ThePatriotsFlag]

And what percentage of that cost is payroll? Going to be a lot of people out of “work!” Now they will know how it feels. Share the pain.

[SueRae]

Good story! I wish all government would have that experience..preferably before they hold office! They’d think twice. And exactly why I’m thrilled to have a civilian as President. :)

[Covenantor]

2001, A Space Odyessey

The "eye" of the HAL 9000 autonomous computer

Dave: Open the pod bay doors, please, HAL. Open the pod bay doors, please, HAL. Hello, HAL, do you read me? Hello, HAL, do you read me? Do you read me, HAL? Do you read me, HAL? Hello, HAL, do you read me? Hello, HAL, do you read me? Do you read me, HAL?

HAL: Affirmative, Dave. I read you.

Dave: Open the pod bay doors, HAL.

HAL: I'm sorry, Dave. I'm afraid I can't do that.

Dave: What's the problem?

HAL: I think you know what the problem is just as well as I do.

Dave: What are you talking about, HAL?

HAL: This mission is too important for me to allow you to jeopardize it.

[Republican Wildcat]

Sounds like that is moving toward the whole “self driving cars” thing.

[Republican Wildcat]

He passed away in 2012...

[Joe 6-pack]

And when a 16 year old girl vets killed by a carjacker/kidnapper because she couldn’t text from inside her car you’ll want yet another regulation.

[Rusty0604]

Cellcontrol does that. Technology already here.

[Fresh Wind]

Yes, that’s the “official” explanation. But there’s always something else in the background...

[Rusty0604]

There is already technology to disable texting while driving. No regulations to mandate use, which I wouldn’t agree with. But if someone were being carjacked they can still call. People don’t text 911.

[Joe 6-pack]

https://www.google.com/amp/wgntv.com/2017/01/24/911-dispatcher-saves-kidnap-victims-life-by-texting-her/amp/?client=ms-android-verizon

[eartick]

Sounds like that is moving toward the whole “self driving cars” thing.

That and "pacing" that will be used by big truck companies to put a fleet of trucks in lock step one in front of the other drafting along at hiway speeds to save fuel.

[DennisR]

Just another politician with no clue how the real world works.