President Joe Biden has laid out his regulatory blueprint for the remainder of the year and beyond if he wins his reelection bid.
The spring Unified Agenda, released by the White House late Friday afternoon, details rules to be drafted agency by agency in the coming months that will tackle climate warming gases and polluted waterways as well as guard against toxic chemicals and protect pristine public lands.
Coming at a key juncture for Biden, who is locked in a tight race with former President Donald Trump, the document lends a sharp contrast between the tough regulations proposed by the Democrat and his Republican opponent’s campaign pledge to tear down the administrative state.
Notably, the Biden administration detailed its time frame for tackling greenhouse gas emissions from existing natural gas-fired power plants after previously punting on those standards. EPA plans to issue a proposed rule in December 2024, the regulatory agenda said, with a date for a final rule “to be determined.” A second Trump administration is likely to shift course on any climate rules from the Biden team.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has drafted protections for extreme heat estimated to cover 35 million workers, which Biden announced earlier this week to highlight his administration’s support of labor and push to mitigate global warming. Those standards, however, are not expected to be finalized for some time. Their notice of proposed rulemaking is dated next month, according to the regulatory agenda.
Biden’s future regulations may never come to fruition if he is defeated this November. Trump is expected to roll back his predecessor’s rules if he takes back the White House.
