Statecraft

Trump Aims to Rein in Federal Bureaucracy With Two Executive Orders

President Donald Trump has long criticized the murky federal bureaucracy’s abuse of small businesses and American families, and on Oct. 9, signed two executive orders meant to reign in bureaucracy and hold government agencies accountable to citizens.

The two executive orders, titled “Bringing Guidance out of Darkness” and “Transparency and Fairness,” are the latest moves by the Trump administration to cut red tape and make it easier for Americans to navigate the labyrinthine federal bureaucracy.

“Today, we take bold new action to protect Americans from out-of-control bureaucracy and stop regulators from imposing secret rules and hidden penalties on the American people,” Trump said at the White House on Oct. 9.

The “Bringing Guidance out of Darkness” requires federal agencies to seek public input on the most important regulations. Under previous administrations, federal agencies issued thousands of guidance documents in the form of brochures, blog posts, and letters. In one example provided by the White House, a 2015 blog post by the Department of Labor called on employers to classify some contractors as employees. The post caused confusion among small business who struggled to interpret it.

The “Transparency and Fairness” executive order requires federal agencies to proactively educate the public about new regulations. The order is meant to give families and businesses fair notice so they can comply with the rules and avoid lawsuits.