The entire Right should agree on Trump’s deregulatory agenda

This essay is a part of The Right Way Forward, Restoring America’s new think tank debate series in which leading conservative institutions argue the defining questions of the post-Trump era. Read about the series here.

The unsung hero of the Trump administration thus far has been deregulation, saving consumers and businesses billions of dollars. While issues like tariffs or the optimal structure of the tax code are hotly debated on the political Right, there should be near-universal agreement that the crusade to roll back burdensome regulation is constructive and should continue in earnest.

For decades, Washington D.C.’s primary export has been costly red tape that strangles innovation and job growth, increases the cost of living, and reduces consumer choice. Empirical evidence shows that aggressive, targeted deregulation removes government-imposed economic barriers, allowing workers, families, and businesses to thrive.

While the Biden administration added trillions of dollars in regulatory burdens, the second Trump administration