DOJ examining state laws' impact on economy

The Department of Justice (DOJ) is looking at state laws with “out-of-state economic impacts” that could hinder the national economy and interstate commerce. 

“Today, the Justice Department and the National Economic Council announce an effort to identify State laws that significantly and adversely affect the national economy or interstate economic activity and to solicit solutions to address such effects,” it said in a press release. 

The DOJ explained President Trump has made a series of demands since his first day back in office to deregulate American industry. 

For example, in the executive order “Unleashing Prosperity Through Deregulation,” Trump asked to “alleviate unnecessary regulatory burdens placed on the American people.” 

In another order, “Zero-Based Regulatory Budgeting To Unleash American Energy,” Trump asked agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Department of Energy, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and others to cease some regulations concerning energy development. 

The DOJ on July 9, for example, sued California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) and California Attorney General Rob Bonta for “prohibiting farmers across the country from using commonly accepted agricultural methods that helped keep eggs affordable.” 

In one example of Trump’s deregulation goals, the Department of Labor is seeking to remove 60 “obsolete” workplace regulations, such as the minimum wage. Furthermore, the administration has removed many regulations imposed during the Biden era on environmental laws and climate change. 

“We are driving a dagger straight into the heart of the climate change religion to drive down cost of living for American families, unleash American energy, bring auto jobs back to the U.S. and more,” EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said. 

In these continued efforts, the DOJ asked for comments from the public to help identify which “State laws significantly burden commerce in other States or between States, thus raising costs unnecessarily and harming markets nationwide.”

It also wants to determine whether "the State laws identified may be preempted by existing federal authority and, if so, what authority.” 

The public has 30 days to provide a comment.