Politics Foreign Affairs Culture Fellows Program

SCOTUS Overturns Chevron in Huge Victory for Conservative Jurisprudence

State of the Union: The 1984 decision had allowed federal agencies, rather than the courts or Congress, to interpret ambiguous laws.
US Supreme Court pedestal
Credit: Anna Rose Layden/Getty Images

The Supreme Court significantly curtailed the power of executive agencies and their unelected bureaucrats Friday with a 6–3 ruling of Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo, which overturned the decision of the 1984 Chevron v. National Resources Defense Council.

The “Chevron deference” allowed federal agencies to interpret any ambiguity in laws. Chevron has been criticized by conservatives for empowering unelected bureaucrats to interpret laws without oversight from either Congress or the Courts (who constitutionally make and interpret laws).

Conservatives have also criticized Chevron for allowing Congress to ignore its responsibilities by leaving clarification of legal ambiguities to unelected administrative agencies. This aspect was highlighted by Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) in a celebratory X thread about the Loper Bright ruling.

The court split along standard ideological lines, with all six conservatives, including the more moderate Chief Justice John Roberts, ruling to overturn Chevron while all three liberals ruled against it.

×

Donate to The American Conservative Today

This is not a paywall!

Your support helps us continue our mission of providing thoughtful, independent journalism. With your contribution, we can maintain our commitment to principled reporting on the issues that matter most.

Donate Today:

Donate to The American Conservative Today