Nearly 50 massive and costly regulations that cost Americans and businesses 53 million more hours filing paperwork and that have already put a $42 billion hit on the U.S. economy are being teed up for President-elect Trump to cut in his first weeks in office.

Congressional officials and anti-regulation groups are tallying up some of the regulations the new president can eliminate under House and Senate rules.



The American Action Forum has a complete list of 48 regulations that can be targeted under the Congressional Review Act. "Utilizing the CRA, Congress and President Trump could potentially repeal at least 48 major regulations with, at a minimum, total regulatory costs of more than $42 billion and 53 million hours of paperwork," the group said in a report provided to Secrets.

During the campaign, Trump called for a 70 percent to 80 percent reduction in the federal regulatory burden and he is expected to first cut those linked to Wall Street, energy and healthcare.

Authors Sam Batkins, director of regulatory policy, and analyst Dan Goldbeck focused on a handful of costly regulations conservatives are ready to cut when Trump comes into office.

"Republicans have the opportunity to enact regulatory reform on a scale not witnessed since President Reagan. CRA disapproval resolutions seem poised to be a significant part of those plans. Although it is unlikely that Congress will cash in all its political capital to this end, several high-profile major rules – and their sizable burdens – could go by the wayside in 2017," said the duo.

Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner's "Washington Secrets" columnist, can be contacted at pbedard@washingtonexaminer.com