POMPEO: Six Months in and Trump's Regulatory Rollback Is a Win for the American People

This week marked six months since the beginning of President Trump’s historic second term – a period marked by a succession of bold policy moves designed to restore America to its full potential. From reestablishing deterrence in the Middle East to tackling wasteful government spending, President Trump and his team have wasted no time in undoing the failed policies of the Biden Administration. Regulatory reform is an area where the Administration has already made an enormous impact and may well be the unsung hero of the past six months of policy wins.

As a small business owner in Kansas, then as a Congressman, and as the 70th Secretary of State, I saw firsthand how our out-of-control regulatory state strangles opportunities for job creation at home and curtails our global competitiveness in critical sectors. President Trump and his team understand the problem and are taking the kind of bold actions needed to reinvigorate the American economy.

President Trump’s “Ten-for-One” Executive order requiring agencies to eliminate ten regulations for every new one doesn’t just cut red tape; it reins in an unaccountable administrative state that has grown far beyond what the American people ever consented to. Indeed, the staggering cost of federal regulations – $2.1 trillion according to the Competitive Enterprise Institute – represents a hidden tax on every American family.

The Biden Administration’s war on fossil fuels constrained our economic growth and compromised our ability to project strength globally – handing an economic and strategic advantage to our adversaries. With Trump back in office, the EPA’s repeal of restrictions on greenhouse gas emissions is restoring America’s hard-won energy independence and strengthening our position at home and abroad.

The deregulatory agenda the Administration is pursuing isn’t about eliminating necessary protections; it’s about ensuring that every regulation serves a clear purpose and doesn’t unnecessarily burden the private sector that drives our prosperity. I’ve spent a lot of time with small business owners across Kansas and throughout America, and their message is always the same: Government regulations are crushing their ability to innovate, compete, and create jobs. When federal bureaucrats thousands of miles away can dictate how a small manufacturer in Wichita operates, we've lost sight of what made America exceptional.

As we look ahead, this regulatory reform effort must continue across all branches of government. The judiciary has an important role in restraining administrative overreach, Congress must reclaim its proper legislative authority, and the Executive branch must continue dismantling the bureaucratic barriers that prevent American greatness.

By unleashing American enterprise through smart deregulation, we’re not just improving lives at home, we’re strengthening our position on the global stage. That’s what America First looks like in practice: having policies that benefit American workers and families while enhancing our ability to lead internationally.

The regulatory rollback of the past six months is just the beginning. With continued focus and determination, we can restore the proper balance between necessary oversight and economic freedom – ensuring that America remains the land of opportunity for generations to come.

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