How the Midnight Rules Relief Act Can Take Back Power From Bureaucrats
Washington is strangling America in red tape.
The Biden administration shattered President Obama’s record for most regulations packed into a single year — filling 96,088 pages in the Federal Register.
And that number could surpass 100,000 pages before the end of the year.
The Constitution clearly outlines the separation of powers between the three branches of government. But federal agencies aren’t sticking to the script.
They write regulations, enforce those same rules, and then act as judge and jury when disputes arise. This consolidation of power makes it easy for unelected bureaucrats to pass excessive and heavy-handed regulations while bypassing Congress’ constitutionally outlined powers.
And this is especially true right now.
‘Midnight rulemaking’ expands the power of unelected bureaucrats at the expense of the Constitution
At the end of a president’s term, agencies scramble to pass as many last-minute regulations as possible. This practice, known as “midnight rulemaking,” produces a deluge of economy-crushing regulations.
These rules are rushed, poorly vetted, and often lack transparency. Yet they carry the same weight as laws passed through Congress.
What does that mean for you?
- More red tape that limits innovation and economic growth
- Fewer opportunities for workers and small businesses
- The empowerment of unelected bureaucrats to, in effect, legislate
Lawmaking belongs in Congress, where elected officials answer to the people. Instead, federal agencies are calling the shots, leaving Americans with little say in the policies that shape their lives.
This concentration of power undermines the system of checks and balances designed by the Founding Fathers.
The result? A bloated administrative state that operates with little transparency and even less oversight.
The Midnight Rules Relief Act offers a smarter, faster way for Congress to stop harmful regulations
The 1996 Congressional Review Act established a process for Congress to pass bills that overturn agency rules.
But the process is slow.
The CRA requires Congress to pass a new bill for each rule it wishes to eliminate.
H.R. 115, the Midnight Rules Relief Act, sponsored by Rep. Andy Biggs, would allow Congress to reject multiple rules through a single bill — instead of one bill per rule — cutting through gridlock and protecting Americans from rushed, reckless mandates.
Click here to watch Biggs talk about the Midnight Rules Relief Act.
If passed, the Midnight Rules Relief Act would help:
- Restore accountability. Congress would reclaim its constitutional role as the primary lawmaking body.
- Protect growth and prosperity. Countering this last-minute flurry of regulations would result in fewer costs and burdens for everyday Americans.
- Rein in executive overreach. Unelected bureaucrats wouldn’t have free rein to flood the system with unchecked regulations.
This isn’t just about cutting red tape. It’s about restoring balance and ensuring laws reflect the will of the people — not the whims of bureaucrats.
It’s time to rein in Washington’s regulatory binge
Unelected bureaucrats shouldn’t get the last word on policies that shape your life. But that’s exactly what’s happening as federal agencies bury Americans under a mountain of rushed, unaccountable regulations.
The Midnight Rules Relief Act is a chance for Congress to reclaim its role as the voice of the people, restore transparency, and stop this runaway regulatory binge in its tracks.
By streamlining the process for Congress to veto harmful midnight rules, we can cut through the tangled web of red tape and ensure rules are decided where they belong: in Congress — not behind closed doors.
