Supreme Court Overturns 1984 Chevron Decision

On June 28, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the 1984 Chevron decision. The Chevron deference doctrine was established by the ruling in Chevron U.S.A v. Natural Resources Defense Council, and granted federal agencies the ability to interpret ambiguous federal laws. Chevron allowed the federal government increased flexibility in addressing issues relating to many sectors, including the environment, public health, and workplace safety.

By a 6-3 majority, the Chevron doctrine was overturned in the Supreme Court’s decision on Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo. The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) released an in-depth statement highlighting the implications of this verdict. With the courts increasingly shifting power in their favor, overturning the Chevron doctrine no longer requires federal courts to defer to a federal agency’s rulemaking as a valid interpretation. Because of this decision, federal regulations will likely be more frequently delayed or overturned without deferral to scientific evidence and research, given that federal courts will now be reviewing federal regulations more often.

This Supreme Court attack on the authority of federal agencies may have significant implications on the ability of the federal government to make efficient policy-making decisions and to take efficient action on developing scientific research.

This article was contributed by COSSA Intern Rachel Bashe.