Commentaries & Insights

Our Commentaries and Insights are short-form publications intended to distill long-form research and synthesize current policymaking activity into easily understood concepts.


President Biden's Competition Executive Order Breaks New Ground

President Biden's most recent E.O. on competition stands out in terms of its length, prescriptiveness, and application to independent regulatory agencies.

The Frequency of Regulatory Suspensions in the 21st Century

Regulatory suspensions are tools for presidents to delay the effective or compliance dates of the prior administration’s rules. Analyzing regulatory data from the Federal Register, we demonstrate how the use of regulatory suspensions has varied from the presidencies of George W. Bush to Joe Biden.

President Biden’s Antitrust Agenda

On July 9, President Biden issued an executive order in which he described a comprehensive 72-part agenda to improve competition in the United States.

President Biden’s New Order: A Central Plan To Impose Competition

President Biden’s sweeping executive order aimed at promoting competition includes some promising actions but also many that will likely inhibit competition.

Agencies are Rescinding Guidance Regulations at a Rapid Pace

To implement President Biden’s Executive Order 13992, executive branch agencies have begun to rescind the thirty-two regulations promulgated in response to President Trump’s Executive Order 13891 on agency guidance documents. The fast withdrawal rate suggests that soon all guidance regulations will be reversed.

Another “First” for the CRA

Congress recently passed three bills targeting Trump administration regulations for elimination. President Biden is expected to sign them, marking another historic “first” for use of the Congressional Review Act (CRA). To date, Democrats have yet to successfully use the oversight tool to strike regulations from the books.

DEA Lifts Moratorium on Methadone Vans

DEA released a final rule that lifts a ban on new methadone vans. The rule is expected to increase access to methadone in rural and underserved urban areas.

The Biden Administration’s First Unified Agenda

OIRA released its semiannual Unified Agenda, marking the first comprehensive look at the regulatory actions agencies are planning under President Biden.

Playing Chicken with the CRA

When an agency fails to send a rule to Congress can private parties sue? The CRA has a special provision that bars court review that SCOTUS may review.

Engaging in the Rulemaking Process

The public has many opportunities to provide input as regulations are being developed.