"By undermining the power of federal agencies, the Court has supercharged a new battlefield for anti-regulation interests to attack our labor, consumer, and civil rights regulations."
Today, with its ruling in Loper Bright, the Supreme Court overturned Chevron deference—a forty-year-old legal doctrine that empowered federal agencies to quickly and efficiently use their expertise to make policy decisions.
Dēmos President Taifa Smith Butler issued the following statement:
This decision allows judges to replace federal agencies’ expert and informed rulemaking decisions with their personal policy preferences.
“The Supreme Court’s decision to weaken agency power by overturning Chevron deference is a devastating setback in our ongoing fight for a just and inclusive economy and democracy. We know how critical it is for federal agencies to issue regulations that protect the public including Black and brown communities.
“This decision allows judges to replace federal agencies’ expert and informed rulemaking decisions with their personal policy preferences.
"By undermining the power of federal agencies, the Court has supercharged a new battlefield for anti-regulation interests to attack our labor, consumer, and civil rights regulations.
“This is the latest power grab in the Supreme Court’s relentless quest to concentrate power in the hands of the judiciary and to deliver for their far-right megadonors. It is Congress’ duty to check this unprecedented breach of the separation of powers by expanding the Court by four seats and passing a binding code of ethics.
“We will continue to fight for structural and policy solutions from which the people can wield full economic and political power to build thriving communities.”