Washington, D.C. — Next week, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments in two cases that could overturn 40 years of precedent and undermine the basic functions of government.
A new report from the Center for American Progress explains how overturning the landmark ruling in Chevron v. National Resources Defense Council would take away the basic tools needed to run administrative agencies so they can best serve the American people. It would give unelected judges free rein to implement their own partisan policy agendas and disregard scientific analysis, policy experts, and the will of Congress.
The report is accompanied by a series of fact sheets showing how overturning this precedent would jeopardize Americans’ access to fair pay and acceptable working conditions; safe food and medications; affordable health care; clean water and air; stable financial markets; student loan forgiveness; civil rights protections; and much more.
“These cases would mark a dramatic step backward in the ability of government to serve and protect the American people,” said Devon Ombres, senior director for Courts and Legal Policy at CAP and co-author of the report. “It is part of a long-term conservative plan to allow judges to impose their political will over the elected branches of government. The result could effectively render functional governance in the United States null and void.”
The report shows how these cases, Relentless Inc. v. U.S. Department of Commerce and Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo, are the latest effort in the right-wing push to dismantle the power of federal regulatory agencies. In fact, conservatives are attempting to weaken the enforcement of laws that hold businesses accountable.
This would make it harder for ordinary people to work safely, live healthy lives, and avoid financial exploitation. It would result in a flood of litigation seeking to eliminate the government’s ability to protect Americans from bad actors of every sort and looming threats as society grows more complex.
Read the report: “Loper Bright and Relentless: Ending Judicial Deference To Cement Judicial Activism in the Courts” by Jeevna Sheth and Devon Ombres
Read the fact sheets here.
For more information or to speak with an expert, please contact Sam Hananel at [email protected].