Eakinomics: The 2020 Regulatory Agenda

I am pleased that you read the Daily Dish every single morning. And I congratulate you on reading each and every new AAF study from our team of experts. Given that, I can safely assume that you have enjoyed the first 19 episodes of The AAF Exchange – the biweekly podcast ably produced by the communications team.

Episode 20 is now out! It is hosted as usual by Kyle Baccei and features Director of Regulatory Policy Dan Bosch discussing the Trump Administration’s 2020 regulatory agenda. The main takeaway is that the administration remains committed to deregulation, with a target of reducing the overall burden of federal regulations by $51.6 billion – more than the $45 billion accomplished in 2017, 2018, and 2019 combined.

This sum is the net effect of two very big outliers. On the savings front, the Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Transportation are expected to take the lead, with the new mileage standards in the modified Safer Affordable Fuel Efficient Vehicles rule saving $80 billion by itself. At the other end of the spectrum, the Department of Homeland Security has been allotted a budget to increase the regulatory burden by $35 billion in the course of tightening immigration standards.

In the middle are agencies such as the Departments of Labor and Health and Human Services, both of which have earned reputations for their deregulatory efforts.

So, give the podcast a listen. And maybe you can help solve the mystery of the $3.7 billion Social Security Administration rule.