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WASHINGTON, D.C. — Despite stalled economic relief talks and rising cases of COVID-19, the Trump administration’s focus has been elsewhere. First, it continued to ram through a lifetime Supreme Court nominee. And second, according to the New York Times, the president and his Cabinet are rushing efforts to make special interest driven regulatory changes that would negatively impact Americans’ lives and livelihoods. The administration’s latest deregulatory effort includes “limiting or sidestepping requirements for public comment” in the process.

“Despite potential risks to public health and immigrants’ and workers’ well-being, the Trump administration is rushing to cement its industry-driven deregulation efforts before its window to do so closes — without giving the American people a say,” said Kyle Herrig, president of government watchdog Accountable.US.

“The president has spent his tenure rolling back protections for those most vulnerable in our nation. For his administration to focus on attacking regulations that help people’s health and economic status amid ongoing public health and economic crises is just the latest example of Trump’s warped special interest priorities.”

The administration has made deregulation a focus of Trump’s tenure, even during the public health and economic chaos brought on by COVID-19. In recent months, it has stripped or suspended crucial environmental rules, rolled back protections for survivors of sexual assault on college campuses, and allowed predatory lenders to push millions more consumers into the payday loan debt trap.   

Among other regulatory rules, the Trump administration is hoping to solidify the following before Election Day: 

  • A Labor Department proposal surrounding the categorization of independent contractors versus employees through an “economic reality test,” potentially hindering workers from accessing essential rights and benefits.
     
  • A proposed Homeland Security Department rule putting up more roadblocks for Americans trying to sponsor immigrants.
     
  • An Environmental Protection Agency rule maintaining standards for the production of certain pollutants despite new evidence that they may cause greater harm than was previously understood — against the warnings of experts and scientists.

Read the full New York Times report here.

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