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Hours after being sworn in as America’s 44th president, Barack Obama ordered “a freeze on new or proposed regulations at all government agencies and departments” made in the final months and weeks of Bush administration. A memo from White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel said that every regulation would have to be reviewed by the department or agency head appointed by Obama. In some cases, however, Obama is too late. For example, “just six weeks ago, the Bush administration issued revised endangered species regulations to reduce the input of federal scientists and to block the law from being used to fight global warming.” The rule went into effect before Obama took office, therefore requiring him “to restart the lengthy rulemaking process.” For rules that have already taken effect, “the Democratic-controlled Congress might be able to help the Obama administration by using the Congressional Review Act, a legislative tool to bring new federal regulations under scrutiny,” notes the AP. Obama will also act to overturn older Bush regulations; one of his first moves in office will be to reverse the “global gag rule” that “prevents federal money from going to international family planning groups that” provide abortion counseling or services.
