Columbia News

Senator Eric Schmitt, a U.S. Senator from Missouri, posted a series of tweets on August 18, 2025, discussing the Congressional Review Act (CRA) and its application to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations.

In his first tweet, Schmitt explained the CRA process: "Under the Congressional Review Act, Congress can vote to repeal a regulation issued by an administrative agency. If the President signs that resolution, then the regulation is repealed and the agency cannot create a 'substantially similar' regulation." (August 18, 2025).

He continued in another post: "Companies affected by the new rule sued, arguing it was illegal for the FCC to re-impose the same rules that Congress and the President repealed using the CRA. And they were right to do so. The FCC rule blatantly violated the law." (August 18, 2025).

In a third tweet on the same day, Schmitt added: "One of the rules they repealed was from the FCC. But the unelected bureaucrats at the FCC weren't happy that their regulation had been repealed by your elected representatives and President Trump. So they waited until Biden took office and then tried again." (August 18, 2025).

The Congressional Review Act allows Congress to overturn federal regulations within a specified period after they are finalized. Once a rule is repealed under this act and signed by the president, agencies are barred from issuing new rules that are "substantially similar." This legislative tool has been used in recent years to target regulations enacted during previous administrations.

The FCC has previously faced legal challenges regarding attempts to reinstate rules that were overturned through this process. The issue highlights ongoing tensions between regulatory agencies and elected officials over policy direction and administrative authority.