On Friday, February 21st, 2025, attendees at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) gathered to discuss one of the most crucial yet often overlooked aspects of conservative governance: regulatory reform. Moderated by conservative commentator Scottie Nell Hughes, the panel included myself (Andrew Langer, Director of the CPAC Foundation Center for Regulatory Freedom), Wayne Crews, Fred L. Smith Fellow in Regulatory Studies at the Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI), and Matthew Jensen, Director of the Office for Fiscal and Regulatory Analysis at the America First Policy Institute (AFPI). The panel focused on the economic burden of government regulation, the urgent need for substantial deregulation, and specific strategies for restoring congressional authority over our bloated administrative state.
Scottie Nell Hughes kicked off the panel by highlighting Governor Doug Burgum’s powerful statement that "we need to embrace innovation over regulation to solve the challenges of the 21st century." This set the tone for an invigorating conversation focused squarely on the imperative for reducing federal overreach to reinvigorate economic freedom and prosperity.
Early in the discussion, Wayne Crews, an authority in the field, emphasized the growth and danger of “regulatory dark matter,” a term he coined referring to the countless guidance documents, notices, bulletins, and informal interpretations issued by federal agencies without congressional oversight or adequate transparency. As Crews outlined, regulatory dark matter is often far more pervasive than formal regulations and insidiously bypasses established procedures like notice-and-comment rulemaking required by the Administrative Procedure Act (APA). This undermines democratic accountability and has severe economic consequences.
As the conversation unfolded, we addressed the enormous fiscal impact of regulations. Matthew Jensen presented alarming data indicating that federal regulations impose an annual cost between $2 to $4 trillion, significantly hindering GDP growth, employment opportunities, and innovation. Jensen emphasized the hidden "opportunity cost" of regulations—how every dollar or hour businesses spend complying with bureaucratic mandates detracts significantly from productive investment and innovation. Citing research, Jensen noted that regulations potentially reduce GDP by at least 25%, equating to more than a trillion dollars annually in lost economic output and revenue.
Building on Jensen’s points, I stressed how the Biden administration had aggressively expanded regulations using a "whole-of-government" approach, embedding regulatory agendas in traditionally unrelated agencies. From energy regulations handled by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to infringements on religious freedom managed by the Department of Education, the regulatory state metastasized under Biden. I specifically criticized recent Biden-era offshore drilling regulations designed explicitly to stifle economic growth, suggesting these regulations are prime targets for immediate rollback.
The panel also delved into the landmark Supreme Court decision overturning the Chevron Doctrine—a ruling that historically granted extensive deference to federal agency interpretations of law. This ruling, known as Looper Bright, restores legislative authority explicitly back to Congress. I explained how overturning Chevron opens opportunities for Congress to reassert its constitutionally mandated legislative powers, curb excessive regulatory interpretations by unelected bureaucrats, and reinstate democratic accountability in government decision-making.
Wayne Crews contributed valuable insights into President Trump’s ambitious regulatory reform initiatives. He highlighted Trump’s powerful new executive order—"one in, ten out"—which mandates that for every new federal regulation implemented, ten existing regulations must be repealed. Additionally, Trump expanded the scope of regulatory review to include historically independent agencies like the FCC and FTC, drastically limiting their unilateral regulatory power. Such measures represent monumental steps forward in limiting the regulatory state and bolstering economic liberty.
Our conversation recognized that the regulatory battle extends beyond mere reduction—it requires the abolition of certain agencies and permanent curtailment of regulatory authority. Crews articulated this clearly, warning that temporary deregulation measures alone cannot guarantee lasting freedom from government overreach. Instead, the complete dismantling of unnecessary agencies, along with the legislative repeal of enabling statutes that empower bureaucratic expansion, remains imperative. The REINS Act—requiring explicit congressional approval for significant regulations—was highlighted as a crucial legislative tool for maintaining deregulatory gains.
At this juncture, it's crucial to highlight the groundbreaking framework recently outlined by Wayne Crews on the CEI blog, titled "Let the Deconstruction Commence." Crews' innovative "Hierarchy of Deconstruction" details a strategic roadmap that Congress should follow to dismantle the entrenched administrative state systematically. His hierarchy emphasizes crucial initial actions such as immediately freezing regulatory pipelines, using the Congressional Review Act to reject recently enacted major regulations, and aggressively rolling back Obama-era "regulatory dark matter."
Crews emphasizes targeting so-called "sub-major" rules, underscoring the pervasive and often underestimated economic impacts these minor-seeming rules impose. His framework strongly advocates placing independent regulatory agencies under direct OMB oversight, ending indirect regulatory practices via federal grants, and ultimately abolishing redundant or harmful agencies altogether.
Importantly, Crews' framework aligns perfectly with President Trump’s recent executive actions aimed explicitly at empowering agency-level "Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) Team Leads" to initiate agency dismantling. Crews persuasively argues that true deregulation means removing the structural foundations of the regulatory state, not merely trimming around its edges. His blog meticulously illustrates that meaningful reform demands Congress reclaim its law-making authority decisively and permanently, rejecting the status quo of regulatory creep.
Back at CPAC, Matthew Jensen’s perspective complemented Crews’ framework by emphasizing the need to consider regulations' fiscal impact when leveraging legislative strategies like budget reconciliation. Jensen articulated a nuanced strategy that not only makes a compelling economic case for deregulation but also strategically employs legislative maneuvers to achieve sustainable regulatory reforms. This combination—of executive orders, legislative precision, and fiscal justification—creates a formidable front for conservatives seeking lasting regulatory freedom.
The panel concluded on a crucial acknowledgment: achieving lasting deregulation requires vigilance, political courage, and a willingness to confront the entrenched interests benefiting from regulatory bloat. Behind every harmful regulation lies a lobbying group or special interest profiting from government intrusion. Breaking these chains necessitates persistent efforts, continuous public education, and unwavering commitment to restoring constitutional governance.
At its heart, the CPAC 2025 Regulatory Panel wasn’t merely an academic debate—it was a clarion call for sustained action. As I concluded at the conference, conservatives must seize the moment afforded by President Trump's recent executive orders and Supreme Court victories to embed lasting regulatory reform. Combining Wayne Crews’ strategic "Hierarchy of Deconstruction," Matthew Jensen’s fiscal rigor, and the political determination emphasized by Scottie Nell Hughes, we have a clear, actionable blueprint for change.
As conservatives, our mandate moving forward is crystal clear: We must aggressively reclaim congressional authority, abolish unaccountable bureaucratic power, and institutionalize permanent constraints on the administrative state. The roadmap articulated at CPAC 2025 provides us not merely with hope—but a realistic strategy to restore the constitutional governance and economic liberty America was founded upon.
Now is the time for bold action. The regulatory state will not dismantle itself, nor will entrenched interests quietly surrender their privileges. By working together to follow the roadmap detailed at CPAC—and powerfully reinforced by Wayne Crews' insightful "Let the Deconstruction Commence" blog—we will reclaim American prosperity, restore government accountability, and ensure lasting freedom from regulatory tyranny. The future of our economic liberty depends on it.
