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Supreme Court Overturns 40-Year Chevron Doctrine in 6-3 Decision, Limiting Federal Agency Power

Jun 28, 2024, 02:32 PM

The U.S. Supreme Court has overturned the Chevron Doctrine in a 6-3 decision, significantly curbing the power of federal regulatory agencies. This landmark ruling ends a 40-year precedent established in the 1984 Chevron v. NRDC case that allowed federal agencies to interpret ambiguous laws, requiring courts to defer to agency expertise. The decision, written by Chief Justice John Roberts in the Loper Bright v. Raimondo case, mandates that courts must now exercise independent judgment in determining whether an agency has acted within its statutory authority, as required by the Administrative Procedure Act. The ruling is expected to have far-reaching implications, particularly for environmental, consumer, and financial-watchdog agencies, which will now face increased judicial scrutiny. The ideological divide was evident, with the court's conservative majority prevailing and the liberal justices dissenting. This decision marks a significant shift in the balance of power between the judiciary and federal agencies, aligning with conservative efforts to limit governmental overreach.