News and analysis right to your inbox. Click to get Ballotpedia’s newsletters!

On the Ballot Episode 163 Congressional Review Act in Trumps 2nd term

From Ballotpedia
Jump to: navigation, search
OTB Main Logo 2.png

On The Ballot is a podcast presented by Ballotpedia that connects people to politics.

Each week, Ballotpedia's election experts will unpack the week's top political stories. Ballotpedia's here to give you the facts, so you can form your own opinion. Stream On the Ballot on Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Stream On The Ballot: SpotifyButton.png AppleMusicButton.png YouTubeButton.png MoreButton.png

Previous episodeNext episode


Episode #163

The Congressional Review Act’s big role in enacting Trump’s agenda

On this episode: When the Congressional Review Act (CRA) was signed into law in 1996 by Bill Clinton, it gave Congress a way to hit pause on federal agency rules they believe have gone too far or otherwise aren’t achieving the desired effect

Here’s how it works: Congress gets a window of time to review any new rule, where both chambers have a chance to pass what’s called a ‘joint resolution of disapproval.’ Then—if the president signs off—that rule is overturned. And maybe the most interesting part of the process is that the agency whose rule has been overturned can’t issue a similar rule again in the future.

The tool’s only been used to repeal 20 rules in its nearly 30 year history, most of which in the last few years — and most heavily by Donald Trump during his first term. The incoming administration sees it as a key to advancing their agenda and rolling back regulations, so we figured now would be a great time to talk a little more about its history, original intention, and the big role it might play over the next few months.

Guest(s): Annelise Reinwald, Policy Staff Writer at Ballotpedia

Key Highlights

  • The Congressional Review Act (CRA) has played a significant role in shaping federal regulations through congressional oversight under the CRA.
  • The Biden administration leveraged the CRA to reverse various agency rules, reshaping policies during his presidency.
  • During his first term, President Trump used the CRA extensively to repeal regulations established under previous administrations and kickstart his agenda.
  • Since 1996, the CRA has been used to repeal several federal agency rules, with notable examples highlighted in repealed rules under the CRA.

On The Ballot is a conversational podcast featuring interviews with guests across the political spectrum. The views and opinions expressed by them are solely their own and are not representative of the views of the host or Ballotpedia as a whole.

Stream "On the Ballot" on Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. If you have questions, comments, or love for BP, feel free to reach out at ontheballot@ballotpedia.org or on X (formerly Twitter) @Ballotpedia.




RECENT EPISODES

Otb200tile.png
Episode #200Introducing: Office Hours, a new monthly series from OTB

To mark our 200th episode, Ballotpedia Founder and CEO Leslie Graves joins Host Norm Leahy for the debut of our new monthly series Office Hours. Leslie outlines her ambitious vision to cover all 520,000 elected offices in the U.S. by 2034, explains the mission behind Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection survey, and makes the case for why voters deserve “robust information” at every level of the ballot.

OTB_HomePage_Thumbnails_%288_most_recent_episodes%29_%28400_x_400_px%29_%283%29.png
Episode #2302025 Election Results

Political analyst Miles Coleman from the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics and Sabato’s Crystal Ball breaks down the results of this November’s elections, from Virginia and New Jersey to major ballot measures across the country. He explains why polling missed the mark in some races, what surprised him most about the results, and how redistricting in California and Virginia could reshape congressional control heading into 2026.

OTB_HomePage_Thumbnails_%288_most_recent_episodes%29_%28400_x_400_px%29_%284%29.png
Episode #222How Many House Seats Could Flip as a Result of Redistricting Efforts Around the Country?

Erin Covey — Editor of U.S. House coverage at the Cook Political Report with Amy Walter — explains the political strategies at play and the legal uncertainties that surround them, as states move to redraw their congressional maps ahead of the 2026 midterms.

OTB_HomePage_Thumbnails_%288_most_recent_episodes%29_%28400_x_400_px%29_%282%29.png
Episode #216Prop 50, Explained (Recorded pre-election)

California voters decided on November 5th to approve a ballot measure that would amend the state’s constitution to temporarily suspend the state’s independent redistricting commission and replace its maps with new, partisan-drawn districts. Maya C. Miller of CalMatters joins the show to explain everything you need to know.

OTB_HomePage_Thumbnails_%288_most_recent_episodes%29_%28400_x_400_px%29_%281%29.png
Episode #213A Brief History of the Federal Reserve

The Fed has been at the center of America’s biggest economic turning points for more than a century as one of the country’s most powerful institutions. Former Richmond Fed President Jeffrey Lacker joins host Norm Leahy to trace that story—from the banking panics that led to its creation in 1913 to JP Morgan’s role in corralling Wall Street leaders.

OTB_HomePage_Thumbnails_%288_most_recent_episodes%29_%28400_x_400_px%29.png
Episode #210Texas Redistricting Battle Spreads Nationwide

Texas Tribune reporter Eleanor Klibanoff and independent election analyst Nathaniel Rakich break down how Texas began their redistricting journey that ultimately led to six states and counting drawing new congressional maps ahead of the 2026 midterms.

OTB194.png
Episode #195How Presidential power has evolved since America’s founding

Constitutional scholar Sai Prakash explores the origins, evolution, and modern realities of presidential power. Drawing on historical debates from the Constitutional Convention, Prakash outlines how early framers envisioned a limited executive—primarily tasked with enforcing laws—and how that vision has shifted over time.

TileCrypto.png
Episode #187An Introduction to Crypto Policy

Cryptocurrency has evolved from a niche experiment into a disruptive force with global implications—and U.S. financial institutions, lawmakers, and regulators are working to establish clear crypto-related policy. In this interview with ⁠former CFTC Chairman Chris Giancarlo, we unpack the state of crypto policy in 2025: The political realignment around digital assets, the rapid growth of stablecoins, the future of tokenized securities, and the debate over whether the U.S. should adopt a central bank digital currency or establish a ⁠strategic Bitcoin reserve.⁠

FIND OUR EPISODE ARCHIVE HERE


Retrieved from "https://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php?title=On_the_Ballot_Episode_163_Congressional_Review_Act_in_Trumps_2nd_term&oldid=10219212"