Trump orders “1 in, 2 out” rule for federal regulations

Enlarge / US President Donald Trump signs an executive order as Vice President Mike Pence looks on at the White House in Washington, DC on January 20, 2017. (credit: Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images))

Last week was a busy one for controversial executive orders, and this week started with another.

On Monday, President Trump signed a far-reaching Executive Order directing federal agencies to get rid of two existing regulations for every new regulation added—regardless of almost any other consideration. Specifically, the order says that “unless prohibited by law," agencies “shall identify at least two existing regulations to be repealed." The EO also states that “the total incremental cost of all new regulations, including repealed regulations, to be finalized this year shall be no greater than zero.”

In other words, the costs imposed by repealed rules will have to, at a minimum, equal the costs imposed by any new rules.