Zero-Based Regulatory Budgeting to Unleash American Energy Act of 2025

This bill would make certain federal agencies set “expiration dates” on their rules. Most existing rules from these agencies would be changed so they end within one year unless extended. New rules would automatically end within five years, unless they clearly reduce red tape and get an exemption. If a rule’s end date isn’t extended, it stops having any effect, can’t be enforced, and must be removed from the Code of Federal Regulations .

Agencies could extend a rule’s end date in up to five-year chunks, but only after asking the public for comments on the rule’s costs and benefits and deciding an extension is warranted. They can repeat extensions as long as they follow this process. If an update to a rule clearly lowers regulatory burden, the agency may extend the end date without the full comment process. Simply asking for comments does not itself extend a rule. The bill does not create new legal rights to sue the government .

• Who is affected: People and businesses covered by regulations from certain federal agencies (the bill calls these “covered agencies”) .
• What changes: Rules from those agencies would regularly “sunset” unless reviewed and extended, with special treatment for rules that reduce red tape .
• When: Existing rules must be amended within 90 days of enactment to end within one year; new rules end within five years unless exempted or extended .