President Trump on Thursday touted his record of cutting federal regulations — claiming the rules delayed infrastructure projects, forced businesses to close and cost millions of jobs.
“Let’s cut the red tape, let’s set free our dreams,” Trump said at the White House as he symbolically cut a red ribbon linking stacks of paper representing the size of the regulatory code. “By ending excessive regulation, we are defending democracy and draining the swamp.”
The effort is driven by Trump’s contention that there are too many rules stifling economic growth.
Critics say that claim is overstated and accuse Trump of trying to dismantle important protections for the environment and consumers.
Trump signed an executive order days after taking office in January that directed agencies to identify two regulations to cut for every new one they intended to issue.
Agencies also had to offset any new regulatory costs with cuts by eliminating existing rules.
Trump said that government agencies have achieved a 22-to-1 ratio of regulatory cuts.
With Post wires