Midnight Regulations
by Matthew Madia, 2/6/2009
The Bush administration rushed out a host of problematic regulations in its final months. Many of these "midnight" regulations actually represent deregulatory actions that weaken or eliminate safeguards protecting health, safety, the environment, and the public's general welfare. Now, the Obama administration and Congress bear the responsibility for undoing Bush's last minute actions. Check here frequently for the latest news.
- OMB Watch has a list of controversial midnight regulations including descriptions and updates on efforts to reverse them.
- Turning Back the Clock: The Obama Administration and the Legacy of Bush-era Midnight Regulations. In this October 2009 report, OMB Watch examines the Obama administration's efforts to address these deregulatory measures and presents a rule-by-rule progress report on some of the most controversial Bush-era midnight regulations.
- On Feb. 4, 2009, the House Judiciary Committee subcommittee on Administrative and Commercial Law held an oversight hearing titled, "Midnight Rulemaking: Shedding Some Light." OMB Watch Executive Director Gary Bass testified at the hearing, providing a recap of the Bush administration's campaign and a list of midnight regulations. Read the testimony.
- What is the Obama Agenda for Bush-Era Regulations? Just hours after President Barack Obama took the oath of office on Jan. 20, new White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel issued a memo setting out the Obama administration's policy for dealing with some regulations left by the administration of President George W. Bush. Read more.
- After Midnight: The Bush legacy of deregulation and what Obama can do. OMB Watch and the Center for American Progress have released a report recapping the Bush administration's midnight regulations campaign and identifying strategies for reversing the worst of President Bush's regulatory legacy. Read the report.
Some of the Bush administration midnight rules proceeded with extraordinary speed. In a process that usually takes years, agencies finalized some controversial regulations in a matter of months. Here is a list of examples. (Also available in Gary Bass's testimony referenced above.)
