The Supreme Court suggests a willingness to limit the authority of federal regulations, which could result in a significant change.

The Supreme Court suggests a willingness to limit the authority of federal regulations, which could result in a significant change.

The conservative majority in the Supreme Court seemed poised on Wednesday to limit the power of federal agencies to control various aspects of American society. This suggests that a ruling made 40 years ago, which is considered a fundamental principle of administrative law, may be at risk.

The two challenges

On Wednesday, the issue before the judges stemmed from a federal rule in 2020 that mandates owners of fishing boats in the Atlantic herring industry to cover the costs of monitors who gather information and supervise activities while on the water.

During the oral arguments, the topic of herring and the rule that sparked the disagreements was rarely brought up. The focus of the justices was on the 40-year-old legal principle, known as “Chevron deference,” which states that courts must defer to an agency’s interpretation of laws passed by Congress as long as it is deemed “reasonable.”

Melissa Quinn

Source: cbsnews.com