Trump's Second Term Has Approved 16 Acts of Congressional Disapproval Through the Review Act
In the 2025 legislative session, the Congressional Review Act (CRA) has been an active tool in undoing several Biden-era regulations. Here's a summary of key developments:
Overturned CRA Resolutions
- The Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) "Once in, Always in" rule, a regulation on hazardous air pollutants, was disapproved under the CRA. This disapproval means the more lenient 2020 Trump-era regulation remains effective, and any future similar rule would require explicit Congressional authorization.
- The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's (CFPB) "Defining Larger Participants of a Market for General-Use Digital Consumer Payment Applications" rule was also overturned by a CRA resolution.
- The EPA's "Waste Emissions Charge for Petroleum and Natural Gas Systems" rule, "National Emission Standards for Hazardous Pollutants: Rubber Tire Manufacturing", and "California State Motor Vehicle and Engine Pollution Control Standards; Advanced Clean Cars II; Waiver of Preemption; Notice of Decision" rule were also overturned by CRA resolutions.
- The Department of Interior's "Glen Canyon National Recreation Area: Motor Vehicles" rule and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management's "Protection of Marine Archaeological Resources" rule were also overturned.
- The Department of Energy's "Energy Conservation Program: Energy Conservation Standards for Commercial Refrigerators, Freezers, and Refrigerator-Freezers" rule and "Energy Conservation Program: Energy Conservation Standards for Consumer Gas-fired Instantaneous Water Heaters" rule were also overturned.
- The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's "Overdraft Lending: Very Large Financial Institutions" rule was also overturned.
Pending CRA Resolutions
- Multiple CRA resolutions passed the Senate in the 119th Congress are awaiting House consideration, such as rules related to the Federal Communications Commission’s “Homework Gap” program and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration standards on hydrogen vehicle fuel system safety.
- A bipartisan group in the House proposed a CRA resolution to overturn the Biden administration’s controversial barred owl management plan by the Fish and Wildlife Service.
Impact of CRA Resolutions
The CRA resolutions in 2025 have been an effective tool to overturn select Biden-era rules, notably environmental regulations and agency policies affecting industry and wildlife management. However, it's important to note that the CRA cannot fundamentally roll back the administrative state.
As of year-end 2024, another 1,560 rules have been issued, bringing the total to 222,373. In 2025, there have been 31 public laws enacted in the 119 Congress, with 16 of them being CRA resolutions of disapproval.
The Trump administration overturned 16 Obama rules between 2017 and 2018, and since 1976, 220,813 final rules have been finalized in the Federal Register.
For those interested in tracking CRA resolutions, the Government Accountability Office's landing page for Congressional Review Act goings-on is a valuable resource.
The pace of a couple dozen rule eliminations per generation through the CRA is considered a slog for preserving limited government over the long term. Nevertheless, the trend indicates continued Congress willingness to use the CRA to undo executive agency rulemakings from prior administrations.
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