This bill would significantly change how courts review decisions made by federal agencies. Currently, courts often defer to agency interpretations of laws and regulations if those interpretations are reasonable, under a legal doctrine known as Chevron deference. The Separation of Powers Restoration Act would eliminate this deference by requiring courts to independently review all legal questions from scratch, including how agencies interpret laws and regulations, without giving weight to the agency's interpretation. The bill would also prevent courts from interpreting gaps or ambiguities in laws as permission for agencies to make new rules on their own. This legislation affects all federal agencies and would apply to any lawsuit challenging agency actions, fundamentally shifting power from the executive branch back toward the courts in disputes over what laws mean.
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