Separation of Powers Restoration Act of 2025

This bill changes how judges review federal agency decisions. When a court looks at an agency’s action, the judge must make up their own mind about what the law means. They should not automatically lean toward the agency’s interpretation. This applies to questions about the Constitution, laws passed by Congress, and the agency’s own rules. It does this by revising the judicial review section of federal law to set this standard.

A law can only create an exception to this rule if it clearly and specifically says so. That means most agency actions will face the same kind of fresh look by the courts.

• Who is affected: People, businesses, and groups who challenge or defend agency rules in court; federal agencies; judges.
• What changes: Judges review legal questions “from scratch” instead of deferring to the agency’s view; exceptions must be clearly written into a law.
• What this could mean day to day: Agency rules may face more court challenges, and courts may be more likely to overturn agency readings of the law, which can affect how regulations are applied and enforced.