The federal government has introduced a new online platform allowing citizens to directly contribute to deregulation efforts across various agencies. Launched earlier this month by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), the website, Regulations.gov, provides an avenue for Americans to report and suggest modifications to existing regulations.
As stated on the website: “Impacted by an existing rule or regulation? Share your ideas for deregulation by completing this form.”
The initiative is a collaboration between DOGE, the Government Services Administration (GSA), and the Office of Management and Budget. White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers emphasized the purpose of the platform:
“DOGE is combining the administration’s goals of adding transparency and slashing waste, fraud, and abuse by offering the American people the unique opportunity to recommend more deregulatory actions. This DOGE-led effort highlights President Trump’s priority to put the people first and government bureaucrats last.”
The Regulations.gov form guides users through a detailed reporting process. Users are prompted to provide:
- Which federal agency implemented the regulation
- Whether the regulation is final or in development
- Justification for deregulation
- A description of how the regulation currently functions
- The name and title of the leading agency official involved
While submitting a suggestion, users have the option to provide their name. The administration may choose to name any resulting rescission after the individual or organization that submitted the recommendation; however, this is not guaranteed.
“Only answer if you would like the rescission to be named after you or your organization. Providing your name does not guarantee that it will appear on any final agency action, and we reserve the right to refrain from using names that are inappropriate or offensive.”
This move comes as DOGE’s public leader, Elon Musk, has frequently voiced concerns regarding government overregulation. During a campaign rally in Pennsylvania, Musk shared an example of SpaceX facing seemingly excessive regulatory scrutiny, recounting a $140,000 fine from the EPA for using water to cool a launchpad.
“I’ll tell you like a crazy thing, like we got fined $140,000 by the EPA for dumping fresh water on the ground. Drinking water… And we’re like, ‘Well, we’re using water to cool the launch pad so it doesn’t overheat.’”
The initiative aligns with recent actions from the Trump administration, including a series of executive orders aimed at deregulation in areas such as energy and climate. These orders included ending a coal leasing pause on federal lands and promoting the use of coal for various applications.
As stated by the White House: “President Trump knows that the bureaucracy is built to regulate, not deregulate. The result is an ever-increasing number of regulations that stifle innovation and limit American freedom.”
