Nation at stake after Supreme Court overturns Chevron The Daily Wildcat

The Supreme Court Overturns Chevron Doctrine: Effects on Environmental Regulation, Health Care, and More

The Supreme Court made an important ruling on Friday, June 28, overturning the landmark 1984 decision in Chevron U.S.A., Inc. v. Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc. This decision, also known as the Chevron doctrine, will have a significant impact on a wide range of issues from environmental regulation to health care costs.

What Was the Chevron Doctrine?

The Chevron doctrine allowed for legislative delegation to administrative agencies to make reasonable interpretations of ambiguous federal laws. In other words, agencies such as scientists, economists, and other specialists were given the power to determine regulations when courts were unable to do so.

The case that led to the Supreme Court overruling the Chevron doctrine began with Atlantic herring fishermen suing the Department of Commerce and fighting against federal regulations that forced them to pay for independent observers to monitor their catch. The fishermen argued that the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act did not authorize officials to create industry monitoring requirements.

The Changes Brought by the New Decision

The Supreme Court’s decision in a 6-3 vote will now put the power of determining regulatory regulations in the hands of judges rather than agencies. According to Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr., “Agencies have no special competence in resolving statutory ambiguities, and federal judges must exercise their independent judgment in deciding whether an agency has acted within its statutory authority.” This overturning of the Chevron doctrine is a shared goal of the conservative movement and the Trump administration.

Effects on Environmental Regulation and Climate Change

One area where this ruling is likely to impact is environmental regulation and efforts to fight climate change. The new decision will complicate matters for the EPA to reduce pollutants from cars, trucks, and other sources, and accelerate the transition to electric vehicles. Additionally, the ruling will pose additional challenges to the already contested Securities and Exchange Commission’s efforts to mandate public companies to disclose their climate risks and carbon emissions.

Effects on Healthcare and Labor Regulations

The new decision will also have implications for healthcare regulations and the FDA. The industry is more inclined to challenge government agency regulations on aspects like the reimbursements determination by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services. It will also impact FDA approvals, which could lead to increased litigation. In terms of labor regulation, the change will increase the difficulty for the government to implement workplace safety regulations and enforce minimum wage and overtime rules. For instance, the Labor Department’s authority to set salary thresholds will be challenged more frequently without the Chevron doctrine in place.

Implications for the Future

The Supreme Court has overturned three major precedents in the last three terms, with the right to abortion in 2022, affirmative action in 2023, and now the power of administrative agencies. With a conservative majority on the bench, this impact was evident in the overturning of the Roe v. Wade decision. The upcoming presidential election will not only decide who will be in control of Congress, but also which party may retain power within the Supreme Court.

In conclusion, the Supreme Court’s decision will signal a significant shift and have long-lasting effects on a broad range of issues across the country. While Congress could always enact new legislation that could reverse these cases and mandate courts to give deference to agencies, it is not likely to happen any time soon. Therefore, courts will now have the responsibility to decide the legality and regulations of issues that were previously delegated to agencies.

Originally Post From https://wildcat.arizona.edu/155601/news/n-chevron-case/