In 2025, Congressional Republicans achieved a notable legislative milestone by rescinding a record number of regulations implemented under former President Joe Biden. This included the repeal of 22 regulations aimed at restricting fossil fuel production, phasing out the sale of gas-powered vehicles, and limiting access to credit through overdraft fee caps.

The Congressional Review Act (CRA), enacted in 1996, allows Congress to overturn recent administrative rules with a simple majority vote in both chambers, followed by the president's approval. In this instance, the resolutions of disapproval signed into law by President Donald Trump marked the highest number of such actions taken by any Congress since the CRA's inception. Previously, during Trump's first term in 2017, GOP lawmakers rescinded 14 regulations from the Obama administration.

Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso stated that these actions would save Americans approximately $180 billion, equating to over $2,000 per family.

One significant regulation overturned was a Biden-era waiver that permitted California and other states to ban the sale of new gas-powered cars by 2035. Critics, including some Democrats, argued that this mandate could negatively impact consumer choice and employment in the automobile sector.

Additionally, in October, Republicans voted to repeal a rule that restricted coal leasing in the Powder River Basin, a region critical for coal production. Proponents of the repeal, such as Republican Senator Steve Daines, contended that the Biden administration's restrictions lacked support from local stakeholders and were detrimental to energy independence.

In December, Trump signed resolutions that reversed Biden's restrictions on energy production in Alaska, which had aimed to protect conservation areas. Supporters of the repeal argued that increased energy production would bolster national security and economic stability.

Furthermore, Republicans rescinded a Consumer Financial Protection Bureau rule that capped overdraft fees at $5, arguing that it would limit credit access for low-income customers and push them towards higher-interest payday loans. They also repealed energy efficiency standards for commercial appliances, claiming compliance costs would burden small businesses.

These legislative actions reflect ongoing tensions between regulatory oversight aimed at environmental protection and consumer welfare, and the push for increased energy production and economic growth.