SHRM Statement on the Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo and Relentless, Inc. v. Department of Commerce Ruling

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Emily M. Dickens, SHRM Chief of Staff and Head of Government Affairs, issued the following statement in response to the Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo and Relentless, Inc. v. Department of Commerce ruling:

“Today, the Supreme Court has made a monumental decision in Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo and Relentless, Inc. v. Department of Commerce, overruling Chevron deference. This ruling overturns decades of established precedent, fundamentally changing how courts evaluate the boundaries of regulatory authority and executive actions. This decision sets a new precedent to guide lower courts to not give deference to a federal agency’s interpretation of laws when challenged.

This case highlights a long-standing issue—the overreliance on regulatory bodies for policymaking in the absence of Congressional action. The lack of consensus and movement on important issues in Congress has exacerbated this problem. Even before the Supreme Court's decision, there was confusion with each new administration and its evolving and revolving regulatory agenda.

The lack of commonsense, bipartisan action in Congress to ensure that workplace laws still meet the needs of our evolving workforce has created the confusion we see now as each new administration brings an entirely new regulatory agenda and priorities. When these rules are inevitably challenged in courts throughout the country, it leads to further confusion and instability in workplace relationships and business operations.

For employers, this decision will become another roadblock as organizations weigh the cost of compliance with a new regulation against its viability. With this decision, the regulatory landscape will become more uncertain and the need for Congressional action is imperative.

Now more than ever, workplace civility is needed for Congress to work together to pass commonsense, bipartisan legislation that promotes clarity and consistency for the most influential workplace laws. SHRM is committed to being a trusted advisor to policymakers as they consider these laws and to supporting our members to ensure compliance in this new regulatory environment.”

About SHRM

SHRM is a member-driven catalyst for creating better workplaces where people and businesses thrive together. As the trusted authority on all things work, SHRM is the foremost expert, researcher, advocate, and thought leader on issues and innovations impacting today’s evolving workplaces.  With nearly 340,000 members in 180 countries, SHRM touches the lives of more than 362 million workers and their families globally. Discover more at SHRM.org