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On Friday, the Supreme Court overturned a 40-year-old precedent that expanded the power of federal agencies. This decision is seen as a win for those who oppose the so-called "deep state" bureaucracy.
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The ruling overturned the 1984 Chevron v. Natural Resources Defense Council decision, which previously allowed courts to defer to federal agencies when interpreting ambiguous laws.
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The decision was made by a 6-3 vote, with conservative justices in the majority and liberal justices dissenting.
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Chief Justice John Roberts wrote that "Chevron is overruled." He stated that courts should now use their own judgment to decide if an agency is acting within its legal authority.
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Liberal Justice Elena Kagan disagreed, saying that this ruling undermines a key part of how administrative governance has worked for decades.
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The Chevron ruling originally helped the Reagan administration reduce business regulations. Over time, it allowed both Democratic and Republican presidents to give agencies flexibility in implementing laws.
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Critics, mainly from the right, argued that Chevron gave too much power to bureaucrats. Supporters, including environmentalists, valued it for allowing agencies to address issues like climate change.
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The case that led to the ruling involved a challenge to a federal regulation requiring fishing vessel operators to fund data collection for fishery conservation. Lower courts had supported the federal government.
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Fishing vessel operators argued that the regulation was too costly, with fees up to $710 a day for independent observers. They claimed this was a burden, especially for small operators.
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This ruling is part of a larger trend of the conservative legal movement and business interests challenging federal agency power. Recent cases include striking down student loan debt relief, blocking a Covid vaccination-or-test rule, and limiting the EPA's power to control carbon emissions