Rep. Pramila Jayapal and Senator Elizabeth Warren have introduced the EXPERTS Act to combat corporate lobbying and restore transparency in federal rulemaking.
WASHINGTON, DC – On November 20, Representative Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) and Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) unveiled new legislation aimed at addressing the growing concerns surrounding corporate influence in government and the erosion of federal regulatory frameworks. The proposed bill, known as the Experts Protect Effective Rules, Transparency, and Stability Act, or EXPERTS Act, seeks to enhance transparency, rebuild public trust, and reinforce expert authority in the federal rulemaking process.
The lawmakers contend that the bill is a necessary response to what they describe as the ongoing dismantling of regulatory safeguards initiated during the Trump administration. These safeguards are intended to ensure that regulations serve the public interest rather than corporate interests.
“Many Americans are taught in civics classes that Congress passes a law and that’s it, but the reality is that any major legislation enacted must also be implemented and enforced by the executive branch to become a reality,” Jayapal stated. She emphasized the importance of protecting public safety, warning that systems designed for this purpose are being compromised. “At a time when corporations and CEOs have outsized power, it is critical that we ensure that public interest is protected. This bill will level the playing field to ensure that laws passed actually work for the American people.”
Warren echoed Jayapal’s sentiments, asserting that the regulatory process has increasingly favored corporate interests over those of the general public. “Giant corporations and their armies of lobbyists shouldn’t get to manipulate how our laws are implemented,” she remarked. “While Donald Trump keeps selling away influence over our government, we’re fighting to ensure the rules are being written to help working Americans, not corporate interests.”
The introduction of the EXPERTS Act follows the Supreme Court’s decision in Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo, which overturned the long-standing Chevron deference doctrine. This doctrine had previously instructed courts to defer to federal agencies’ reasonable interpretations of ambiguous laws. The lawmakers argue that the reversal of this doctrine grants courts broader authority to invalidate expert-driven regulations, thereby undermining essential protections related to worker safety, financial fairness, and environmental standards.
According to Jayapal and Warren, the current rulemaking process disproportionately favors industry lobbyists, who can exert significant influence over regulatory outcomes. They point out that companies often engage in private lobbying of regulators, fund studies that may appear scientific, and distort the anticipated impacts of stronger oversight. In contrast, the general public has limited opportunities to influence these processes.
The EXPERTS Act aims to reverse this trend through a series of comprehensive reforms. Key provisions of the bill include restoring Chevron-style deference, ensuring full transparency regarding the funding of studies submitted during the rulemaking process, and requiring public explanations when agencies withdraw proposed rules. Additionally, the legislation seeks to expedite rulemaking by eliminating private parties from the negotiated rulemaking process, reinstating a six-year limit for challenging agency actions in court, and creating new mechanisms to empower ordinary citizens. This includes imposing fines on corporations that submit misleading claims and establishing an Office of the Public Advocate.
By introducing the EXPERTS Act, Jayapal and Warren hope to create a regulatory environment that prioritizes the needs of the public over corporate interests, ultimately fostering a more equitable and transparent governance framework.
Source: Original article