Columbia News

Senator Eric Schmitt has raised concerns about federal agencies' responses to the Supreme Court's recent decision to overrule Chevron deference, according to a series of posts on August 7, 2025. In his tweets, Schmitt outlines agency reactions and details proposed legislative changes aimed at increasing congressional oversight.

On August 7, 2025, Schmitt wrote: "Agencies not only failed to prepare for the widely anticipated overrule of Chevron—many appear to still operate as if the decision was never released. In the process of creating this report, some agencies told us they wouldn’t change anything. Others didn’t respond at all."

In another post from the same day, he described long-term policy objectives: "Finally—the long-term goals: starting new conversations • Require regular statutory reauthorization or sunsetting for federal agencies • Set hard caps on total regulatory costs • Look into a Separation of Powers constitutional amendment to restore the nondelegation doctrine".

Schmitt also emphasized congressional authority in lawmaking and promoted a newly released report: "We have a tremendous opportunity before us to take power back from long-entrenched D.C. bureaucrats, and this working group is a major step in taking back Congress’s constitutional power in the lawmaking process. The report just went live on @HarvardJLPP, read it here: https://t.co/H6yIgypn3a".

The Supreme Court's overruling of Chevron deference marks a significant shift in administrative law. For decades, Chevron deference required courts to defer to reasonable interpretations of ambiguous statutes by federal agencies. Its removal is expected to alter how regulations are crafted and challenged across multiple sectors.

Schmitt’s remarks reflect ongoing debates about regulatory reform and separation of powers within the U.S. government. His call for measures such as statutory reauthorization requirements and cost caps aligns with broader efforts among lawmakers seeking increased accountability for federal agencies.