Trump Signs Order Targeting ‘Overcriminalization’ in Federal Regulation

President Donald Trump signed an executive order on May 9 targeting what he called the overcriminalization of regulation across the United States. “The United States is drastically overregulated,” the order stated. “The Code of Federal Regulations contains over 48,000 sections, stretching over 175,000 pages — far more than any citizen can possibly read, let alone fully understand. Worse, many carry potential criminal penalties for violations.” The president said that many of the regulatory crimes are “strict liability” offences, privileging large corporations that have the means to obtain a legal team that can work around the regulations. “The purpose of this order is to ease the regulatory burden on everyday Americans and ensure no American is transformed into a criminal for violating a regulation they have no reason to know exists,” the order stated....