Fighting Overcriminalization in Federal Regulations

President Donald Trump signed an executive order on May 9, 2025, aiming to reduce overcriminalization in federal regulations. The order seeks to ease the regulatory burden on Americans by discouraging the criminal enforcement of regulatory offenses, especially those that do not require intent to violate the law (strict liability offenses). This action could have significant legal and political implications by potentially reducing the number of people facing criminal charges for unknowingly violating obscure regulations, while also highlighting the administration's focus on regulatory reform and its impact on businesses and individuals.