White House puts 702 regulations on chopping block in new plan

A holiday rollout with a long repeal list

The White House used the July 4 federal holiday to release a semiannual regulatory agenda that would eliminate 702 existing administrative rules, the largest deregulatory package listed in such a plan, Bloomberg reported.bloomberg The proposed cuts are roughly twice the number that were in motion at any point during President Donald Trump's first term, and they follow 752 deregulatory actions finalized or completed since the federal fiscal year began on October 1, 2025.economictimes +1

The agenda targets environmental review requirements for energy projects, energy efficiency standards and rules tied to diversity, equity and inclusion programs.spokesman It advances Trump's directive that agencies seek to repeal 10 regulations for every new one they adopt, a goal the administration says the plan is expected to meet this fiscal year, though a final accounting will not come until after September.economictimes

Savings claims meet a benefits fight

The administration projects up to $1.5 trillion in economic savings from the rules it plans to terminate by the end of September.investing +1 Much of that estimate rests on a planned repeal of the Environmental Protection Agency's 2009 endangerment finding, the legal foundation for many greenhouse gas regulations; Trump has argued the emissions policies enabled by that finding would cost the economy $1.3 trillion.spokesman

Opponents are already challenging the math. Liberal groups say the administration's estimates do not fully count the public benefits of environmental, safety and consumer protection rules, setting up a fight not only over compliance costs but over what the federal government treats as savings.spokesman The push also comes as independent agencies face tighter White House control after a recent Supreme Court ruling that the president may remove their heads at will, with major rulemaking now expected to run through the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs.economictimes

The plan still writes new rules

The deregulatory drive does not mean agencies are only deleting policy. The same agenda includes proposed rules to deny all federal benefits to undocumented immigrants under a new public-charge approach, expand background checks for foreign nationals working in transportation industries and crack down on deceptive practices in rental housing through the Federal Trade Commission.spokesman

Other rollback efforts are moving in politically sensitive areas. A separate report said the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has proposed changes that could allow more firearm purchases to be completed online and loosen restrictions on mailing handguns directly to buyers, drawing scrutiny because Donald Trump Jr. sits on the board of online gun retailer GrabAGun and owns a stake in the company.mediaite The White House and Trump Jr.'s spokesperson rejected any link between the gun proposals and his business interests.mediaite