Also on June 28, the same far-right SCOTUS justices responsible for the EPA decision overturned a landmark 40-year-old ruling that became known as the “Chevron” doctrine. The Chevron doctrine came out of a 1984 SCOTUS decision in Chevron v. Natural Resources Defense Council.

As a result of that ruling, it was an understood practice that if Congress was unable to directly address a particular question at the center of a dispute, a court was required to uphold an agency’s interpretation of the statute, as long as it was “reasonable.” The idea was that if Congress passed a law where something was unclear — or there was a “gap” — it was up to the agency responsible to fill in the gap.

The U.S. ruling class and right-wing think tanks like the Heritage Foundation have sought to overturn the Chevron deference for decades. The new verdict weakens federal programs created to help people, and it gives more power to corporations and far-right unelected judges. Now, bosses and judges can arbitrarily reach their own interpretations about laws that have a major impact on people’s daily lives.

Many people fear the new ruling can negatively affect numerous issues, ranging from environmental regulation to health care costs. Several advocacy groups warn the new changes may harm public health, fair lending, worker safety and other areas where people rely on federal help. For example, the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization called the new ruling “a monumental setback that will harm all Americans and profoundly impact our nation’s environmental safeguards and public health protections.” (BBC, June 28)