In a landmark shift, the Supreme Court's recent decision hands over the authority to regulate environmental issues from federal agencies to judges, stirring debates about expertise and regulatory power.
Rebecca Raney reports for U.S. Right To Know.
In short:
- The Supreme Court ended the Chevron deference, which allowed experts in federal agencies to make regulatory decisions.
- Senate Democrats introduced a bill to restore agency power, emphasizing worker safety and environmental protections.
- Legal experts warn that judges' lack of scientific expertise could lead to flawed decisions on complex environmental issues.
Key quote:
“Air emissions, federal lands, federal lands offshore, PFAS cases, perchlorate cases, all of those, I think, might be in jeopardy."
— David Vladeck, professor at Georgetown University Law Center
Why this matters:
The Supreme Court's latest ruling has shifted the balance of power from scientists to judges when it comes to environmental regulation. This game-changing decision means that instead of the nation's top scientists calling the shots on policies to protect our air, water, and health, it's now up to the judiciary to make the big calls. Read more: Supreme Court undoing 50 years’ worth of environmental progress.
