The One Big Beautiful Bill Act’s tax reforms marked an important step toward restoring a government that trusts the people to drive economic prosperity.

But now that the legislation has passed, it’s time for Congress to focus on the next piece of the economic prosperity puzzle: eliminating red tape and wasteful overspending that hamper economic growth. Doing so will supercharge the OBBB’s tax policies and ensure they can reach their full potential.

Congress can start by reclaiming its rightful constitutional role.

For the past 40 years, unelected and unaccountable federal bureaucrats have encroached upon Congress’s authority as the lawmaking body, implementing countless rules and regulations that stretch laws beyond their intended limits. In 2021 alone, the Biden administration issued 3,257 regulations. 

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By enacting these regulations without any congressional checks, agencies have effectively kneecapped American businesses and undermined the United States economy.

In 2021, federal regulations were estimated to cost Americans nearly $2 trillion. Job-creating small businesses bear a significant cost. According to the National Association of Manufacturers, regulations cost businesses with fewer than 50 employees $14,700 per year per employee.

Businesses are not the only ones who suffer. Federal regulations cost the average American household up to $23,000 yearly, a tax imposed by unelected bureaucrats that American families can’t fight with their votes. 

In addition to regulations, the administrative state has overstepped in other ways, resulting in widespread government waste and overspending. In 2023, the federal government reported an estimated $236 billion in “improper payments,” which include overpayments and other payment errors.

The careless stewardship of taxpayer money often puts ideology ahead of the free market. For example, the Department of Transportation has two grant programs allocating $7.5 billion toward creating “a national network of vehicle charging stations.” This spending is wholly unnecessary when we could simply allow local demand to determine whether there is a need for this infrastructure.

All of this reckless spending contributes to the deficit, and taxpayers are left to cope with the consequences. The Trump administration’s efforts to root out and eliminate unlawful agency regulations and waste have been a welcome step toward getting things back on track. But without congressional action, these changes are likely to be temporary or limited in scope.

It’s time for Congress to reclaim its constitutional authority to ensure lasting reform.

Congress made a good start last month by passing the president’s rescissions package, canceling $9 billion in unnecessary federal spending. The White House should send more rescission packages, and Congress should promptly pass them.

Multiple legislative proposals aimed at ensuring that overzealous unelected bureaucrats can’t harm American workers and businesses in the future should be passed by Congress to advance the Trump administration’s goal of shrinking the federal bureaucracy. Chief among them is the Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny, or “REINS” Act, which calls on Congress to literally “rein in” executive agencies.

The bill would require Congress to approve any new major regulation that will likely have an annual economic effect of at least $100 million, significantly increase prices for consumers and industries, or hinder the ability of American businesses to compete with foreign ones. The REINS Act would help restore a key feature of self-government: ensuring the laws affecting Americans’ lives and livelihoods can’t be imposed by unelected officials behind closed doors.

States such as Wisconsin and Idaho are already demonstrating that regulatory reform can produce tangible results. Wisconsin’s REINS Act has saved taxpayers millions by preventing costly rules from taking effect without legislative approval.

Another legislative proposal, the Reorganizing Government Act, would restore a legal pathway for the president to reorganize federal agencies under congressional oversight and approval.

Lastly, the Midnight Rules Relief Act would speed up the process for Congress to reject executive branch regulations under the Congressional Review Act, a powerful tool that brings accountability to the administrative state. The legislation would allow Congress to reject multiple rules through a single bill instead of the current process that requires one bill per rule. 

AS SOCIAL SECURITY TURNS 90, CONGRESS FACES DEADLINE TO PREVENT BENEFIT CUTS

For too long, Congress has allowed federal agencies to usurp its authority. But if Congress wants to keep its promise of prosperity to the American people, it must take the reins.

To deliver lasting prosperity, Congress must pair pro-growth tax policy with a recommitment to limited government. That means restoring constitutional boundaries, ending unaccountable governance, and putting people, not bureaucracy, back at the center of the American economy.

Jeremiah Mosteller is an attorney and policy director at Americans for Prosperity.