Trump Administration Proposes Eliminating 702 Federal Regulations

The administration of Donald Trump has launched a record-setting deregulatory campaign, proposing the elimination of 702 federal administrative rules by the end of the fiscal year in September. This push follows 752 rollbacks already completed since October 1, 2025. The White House projects $1.5 trillion in economic savings, largely driven by the proposed repeal of the 2009 endangerment finding regarding greenhouse gases, which the president claims costs the economy $1.3 trillion.

Targeted cuts include energy efficiency standards, environmental review requirements for energy projects, and diversity, equity, and inclusion rules. Additionally, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission plans to scrap the disparate impact standard for proving racial discrimination, and the Food and Drug Administration is delaying requirements for more visible nutrient data on food packaging. Despite the cuts, the plan introduces new measures, including a public charge rule to deny federal benefits to undocumented immigrants.

Simultaneously, the administration is scrapping more than three dozen firearms regulations through the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. These changes include ending a zero-tolerance policy for illegal sales and removing scrutiny of stabilizing braces. The administration has also sued California and Virginia over state-level restrictions on semi-automatic rifles and handguns.

This effort is supported by a Supreme Court of the United States ruling allowing the president to remove agency heads at will. Federal agencies must now coordinate all rulemaking with the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs. While the administration argues these moves reduce burdens on businesses, critics and gun control advocates warn the rollbacks diminish the government's ability to regulate the firearms industry and may increase violent crime.