The far-right Supreme Court has shocked the American people by dismantling 40 years of principles. Reversed Long-standing precedent.
The overturning of several landmark decisions, Roe v. Wade To Chevron v. Natural Resources Defense CouncilAmericans are less safe. Everyone knows that overturning Roe would limit reproductive freedom in the United States. But what many Americans don’t realize is that the decision also has life-threatening consequences. In one fell swoop, the Supreme Court removed an entire body of federal agency experts tasked with interpreting and enforcing ambiguous statutes.
Chevron supported the commonsense proposition that Congress and the Executive Branch should be the primary policy makers in our government because they are accountable to the people through the ballot box. The Supreme Court overturned Chevron, making it harder for Congress to exercise its policymaking power, and the American people will suffer as a result. By excluding technical experts from federal agencies and not building Congress’s capacity to bring such experts in-house, we have hamstrung Congress’s ability to make policy. Unless we significantly increase legislative resources, we will be left entirely in the hands of a court that is well versed in the law and the Constitution, but is not an expert in aerospace engineering, artificial intelligence, or food science.
Put plainly, this decision did not empower Congress, and it did not empower the American people. This decision was a gift to special interests, big corporations, and billionaires.
Big corporations will do everything in their power to find cases to overturn existing regulations that ensure the food and water we give our children are toxin-free and the air we breathe is free from pollution. From now on, these decisions will not be made by environmental toxicologists or other experts, but by the courts. Americans should ask themselves who they want to write the regulations for aircraft manufacturing: aeronautical engineers or judges deciding lawsuits brought by entities whose sole purpose is to maximize profits.
Now, more than ever, Congress must make thoughtful and sufficient investments to build institutional capacity. My Republican colleagues need to get serious about preparing us for a post-Chevron world. They need to pass a full Legislative Appropriations bill.
Long before the court’s decision, my colleague, Congressman Derek Kilmer, as chairman of the bipartisan Select Committee on Congressional Modernization, was clearly Documented Congress desperately needs an infusion of resources, capacity and expertise. Unfortunately, in their most recent legislative fiasco, House Republicans have failed to pass spending bills for their own Legislature because they refused to work in a bipartisan manner to put their constituents and Congress first.
Time is running out and this investment is needed now more than ever.
Recent improvements made to recruit and retain skilled staff, spearheaded by the House Administration Committee in the 116th and 117th Congresses while the House was under Democratic control, include, but are not limited to, implementing a first-ever minimum wage for full-time House staff, separating member and staff compensation (which has allowed us to raise the cap on staff compensation and retain experts and policy drafters), expanding benefits such as student loan repayment programs, and increasing resources for the Congressional Staff Academy and Chief Administrative Officer Coaching Program.
To meet this moment, we need to clearly recognize how much investment is required, and experts have already expressed their opinions on this decision. Impact Parliament and its legislative powers, and how it Impact Environmental policy regulations, healthcare policy, technology, prescription drug costs, manufacturing, the list goes on.
The decision also fits into the strategy of the Republican Party’s extremist wing: If the Republicans win in November, Trump’s supporters will Project 2025 This would harm the American people. Project 2025 has already Mass layoffs of civil servants — people who work every day to keep our produce from spoiling and our milk from souring. The implementation of Project 2025 will further threaten government expertise in dealing with the most pressing issues of our time.
The End of Respect for Chevron The plans President Trump is trying to implement are intertwined with the conservative radical Project 2025. This could mark the beginning of the end of the institutions we rely on to keep us safe and the American political system as we know it.
Rep. Joe Morrell (NY-DN) is the ranking member of the House Administration Committee with responsibility for federal election law.
