WASHINGTON (June 28, 2024) – The U.S. Supreme Court overturned four decades of settled law in a ruling that sharply constrains the ability of federal agencies to carry out federal laws. The ruling in a pair of cases (Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo and Relentless, Inc. v Department of Commerce) widens the window for unaccountable lower court judges to substitute their personal preferences for the policy expertise of federal agencies.
Manish Bapna, president of the NRDC Action Fund, made the following statement:
“The Court’s conservative majority, once again, has put corporate interests ahead of the public good. This invites unaccountable judges to substitute their personal policy preferences for the expertise of federal agencies. It weakens our government’s ability to protect us from the climate crisis, threats to worker safety, public health, clean air and water, safe medicines and food, a sound financial system, and more.
“This ruling is the direct result of three Trump appointments that cemented a 6-3 conservative supermajority on the bench and sent the Court on a hard right course starkly at odds with the public interest.
“Elections matter. We must reject a second Trump presidency that would entrench or expand a conservative supermajority this far out of step with the nation. We need a president who will bring balance to the Court, a Congress that will restore the federal powers the Court has weakened, and a Court that will work to earn back the people’s trust.”
