In sweeping move, Trump puts regulation monitors in US agencies

President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to place “regulatory reform” task forces and officers within federal agencies in what may be the most far reaching effort to pare back US red tape in recent decades.

Trump signed the directive in the Oval Office with chief executives of major US corporations standing behind him including Dow Chemical, Lockheed Martin and US Steel.

The sweeping order directs every federal agency to establish a task force to ensure each has a team to research all regulations and take aim at those deemed burdensome to the US economy. It must designate regulatory reform officers within 60 days and report on the progress within 90 days.

“Excessive regulation is killing jobs, driving companies out of our country like never before,” Trump said before signing the order. “Every regulation should have to pass a simple test; does it make life better or safer for American workers or consumers?”

The effort is part of a Republican push to undo many of the actions of former President Barack Obama.

The order says agencies should seek to repeal regulations that “inhibit job creation,” are “ineffective,” impose costs that exceed benefits or “create a serious inconsistency or otherwise interfere with regulatory initiatives and policies.”

Trump said US does not need “75 per cent of the repetitive, horrible regulations that hurt companies, hurt jobs.”

The Republican has vowed a sweeping cut in US regulations and previously ordered agencies to repeal two rules for every new one adopted. Scott Slesinger, legislative director at the Natural Resources Defense Council environmental group, said “this order is a directive to kill the safeguards Americans depend on for clean air, drinkable water and safe food.”