Honestly, if you try to track every single rule the Trump administration axed, you’ll end up with a headache and a stack of paperwork taller than a skyscraper. It’s a lot. People talk about "deregulation" like it’s this abstract concept, but for the guys running the EPA or the Department of Energy right now in 2026, it’s basically been a scorched-earth mission.
The goal was simple, at least on paper. Cut the "red tape" that Trump argued was strangling American business. He even had this "one-in, two-out" rule early on, where for every new regulation created, two had to hit the trash can. But what regulations did trump cut specifically? We aren't just talking about minor tweaks to office supply standards. We’re talking about the bedrock of how the U.S. handles its water, its air, and its money.
The Big Ones: Environment and Energy
The EPA has been the main stage for this drama. One of the heaviest hitters was the repeal of the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule. Basically, this rule defined which streams and wetlands the federal government could protect under the Clean Air Act. By narrowing that definition, a massive chunk of the country's waterways—about 18% of streams and over half of all wetlands—lost federal protection. Farmers loved it. Environmentalists? Not so much.
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Then there’s the Endangerment Finding. This is the "Holy Grail" for anyone looking to stop climate regulations. It’s the scientific determination that greenhouse gases actually hurt people. Lee Zeldin, the current EPA chief, has been pushing hard to kill this. If it goes, the legal legs for regulating car emissions or power plant smoke basically get chopped off.
- Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS): The administration moved to rescind the 2024 standards for power plants.
- The Paris Climate Agreement: Trump officially pulled the U.S. out (again) in early 2026.
- Methane Rules: Requirements for oil and gas operators to leak less methane were kicked down the road to 2027.
It’s a vibe of "drill, baby, drill" mixed with a healthy dose of "let the states figure it out."
Wall Street and the Banking Shakeup
Back in 2018, Trump signed the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act. Sounds fancy, right? It was basically a massive "get out of jail free" card for mid-sized banks. It raised the threshold for "too big to fail" from $50 billion in assets to $250 billion.
Why does that matter?
Because it meant dozens of the country’s biggest banks didn't have to go through the same rigorous "stress tests" anymore. They didn't have to keep as much cash on hand to survive a crash. When Silicon Valley Bank went belly-up a few years back, a lot of experts pointed right back to these 2018 cuts as the reason nobody saw it coming.
The Volcker Rule also got a haircut. This was the rule that stopped banks from gambling with your deposit money. Now, banks with less than $10 billion in assets are largely exempt. They can invest in hedge funds or private equity again. It’s a high-stakes game.
Healthcare and the "Big Ugly Bill"
In 2025 and 2026, the regulatory cuts hit the medical world hard. Through the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" (or OBBBA, which is a mouthful), the administration fundamentally changed how people get insurance.
They basically let the enhanced ACA tax credits expire. For a family of four making around $130,000, their monthly premiums could jump from $900 to over $1,500. That’s a mortgage payment for some people. They also introduced new work-reporting requirements for Medicaid. If you can't prove you're working 80 hours a month, you're out. The CBO thinks this could leave 10 million more Americans uninsured by 2034.
Education and the "Dismantle" Order
Maybe the most shocking move was the 2025 executive order to dismantle the Department of Education. Trump wants to send that authority back to the states. While things like Pell Grants and Title I funding are supposed to stay, the actual administration of that $1.6 trillion student loan portfolio is currently a giant question mark.
Is it Working?
Depends on who you ask. If you're a small business owner who was spending $20,000 a year just to comply with federal paperwork, you're probably thrilled. The administration argues this is "the Golden Age of American success."
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But there’s a cost. The EPA recently changed how they do math. They used to count "lives saved" when deciding if a pollution rule was worth it. Now, internal memos suggest they’re setting the value of a human life at $0 for these calculations. They only look at the "cost to business."
Actionable Insights for 2026
If you're trying to navigate this new landscape, you've got to be proactive.
- Watch the Courts: Most of these rollbacks are being sued. A judge in Arizona or DC could flip these rules back overnight. Don't bake these changes into your 10-year business plan just yet.
- State-Level Compliance: Just because the feds aren't watching your emissions or your hiring practices doesn't mean California or New York isn't. In fact, many states are passing stricter rules to fill the gap.
- Audit Your Insurance: With the ACA credits gone, 2026 is going to be a brutal year for premiums. If you're self-employed or a small business owner, start shopping for private group plans now before the January price hikes hit.
- Stay Liquid: With financial deregulation back in style, the market is more volatile. If banks are holding less "buffer" capital, the next "black swan" event will hit harder and faster.
The regulatory environment is shifting under our feet. Staying informed isn't just about politics anymore; it’s about protecting your bottom line.
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To stay ahead of these changes, you should regularly monitor the Federal Register and the Brookings Regulatory Tracker. These sources provide daily updates on which rules are being finalized and which are being tied up in court. Additionally, consulting with a regulatory compliance expert can help you identify specific state-level "bridge" laws that might still apply to your industry even if federal oversight has diminished.