Legal experts say there’s no basis for the Trump administration’s plans to repeal environmental regulations

Two new White House directives aim to significantly expand executive power over federal environmental and energy regulations, prompting legal challenges. Environmental lawyers argue these directives are likely illegal, exceeding established presidential authority. One order mandates a "sunset provision" for energy regulations, automatically repealing them after a year unless extended. This is deemed unlawful, lacking basis in existing law and administrative procedure. Another directive seeks to repeal regulations deemed unlawful based on Supreme Court decisions, bypassing established procedural safeguards. Experts claim these actions create chaos and uncertainty, undermining the regulatory process. The directives potentially reflect a misunderstanding of governmental processes and are criticized as impractical. Legal experts believe these actions will fail in court, citing the Administrative Procedure Act. Concerns exist regarding the Supreme Court's potential influence on these cases, potentially expanding executive power. The potential consequences of upholding these directives include widespread damage to environmental protection and public health.