Congress

The Trump administration and Republican-majority Congress are making reducing the number of federal rules and regulations a priority.

Republicans have a slim majority in the House of Representatives — and those from liberal states could throw their weight around.

According to both the Constitution and the Impoundment Control Act of 1974, the president does not have the authority to spend or hold back funding Congress has appropriated.

Roughly 100 rules — including some from the Environmental Protection Agency and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau — could be repealed under the Congressional Review Act.

"It’s a slow drum beat of states starting to consider ways to protect citizens’ rights," said Albany Law School professor Ray Brescia.

Many provisions of that tax law expire at the end of this year — including the individual tax cuts for most Americans.

The options on the table: cut spending, default on the national debt, raise the ceiling — or eliminate it altogether.

With slim majorities, the GOP will likely lean on the budget reconciliation process starting next year. But what is that exactly?

The upcoming election could impact whether a provision of Trump-era tax reform is extended beyond 2026.

Nobody wants to take the blame in an election year.