Ensuring Accountability: CRF Advocates for Reform Across Immigration, Infrastructure, and Financial Regulation

The Center for Regulatory Freedom (CRF) submitted comments this week to ensure federal agencies are held accountable and that the United States remains economically competitive and promotes individual self-sufficiency. Through a series of comprehensive comments, CRF challenged the federal bureaucracy to return to its statutory foundations, advocating for policies that range from strengthening the integrity of America’s immigration system to revitalizing national infrastructure and expanding access to credit. These actions reinforce CRF's commitment to dismantling the barriers created by regulatory overreach and securing a future where federal oversight is defined by common sense, fiscal discipline, and a respect for the American taxpayer.

In comments filed with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) regarding the public-charge ground of inadmissibility, CRF supported the decision to rescind the 2022 Biden-era rule. CRF argued that the previous framework improperly limited the ability of immigration officers to assess whether applicants were likely to become dependent on government assistance. By advocating for a fact-based, common-sense approach that considers total household welfare use and realistic measures of self-sufficiency, CRF urged the restoration of standards that protect the integrity of the immigration system. Clearer, more objective metrics are essential to reducing administrative discretion and ensuring that enforcement remains consistent and protective of the public interest.

CRF's commitment to market-driven solutions and regulatory restraint was further evidenced in its submission to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) concerning the quadrennial review of broadcast ownership rules. CRF welcomed the Commission’s inquiry but cautioned against using the proceeding to interfere in ordinary commercial disputes between networks and local broadcasters. CRF emphasized that localism remains the sole justification for broadcast regulation and that federal action should be limited to situations where a licensee’s ability to serve its community is genuinely impaired. These views, which highlight the importance of avoiding rules that distort the media marketplace or disadvantage smaller broadcasters, resonated widely and were prominently featured across Newsmax’s television and digital platforms.

CRF addressed the revitalization of national infrastructure in response to the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) request regarding Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD). CRF encouraged a comprehensive redesign that modernizes operations and restores the airport’s status as a world-class gateway, echoing the call for a more beautiful and functional facility. By promoting human-centered design that integrates the iconic Saarinen terminal with modern passenger flow requirements, CRF argued that disciplined project delivery and attention to aesthetics will dramatically improve the traveler experience. Enhancing Dulles is a vital step in ensuring regional competitiveness through thoughtful, phased modernization that reflects American excellence.

In combined comments regarding the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s Regulation B (CFPB), CRF supported efforts to return credit regulations to their statutory foundations and reduce the uncertainty that limits capital access. CRF argued that the Equal Credit Opportunity Act prohibits intentional discrimination rather than the expansive theory of disparate-impact liability, which often stifles financial innovation. By advocating for streamlined, legally grounded rules for small-business data collection and discouragement standards, CRF aims to protect borrowers while preserving the competition necessary for a healthy financial sector. These comments emphasize that a predictable regulatory environment is essential for small businesses to thrive and for the economy to remain robust.

The comments made this week to DHS, the FCC, the DOT, and the CFPB carry a unified message that the federal bureaucracy must answer to the American people through measurable results and fidelity to the law. By fighting for a regulatory environment that balances government efficiency with economic reality, CRF is working to secure a landscape where American industry and individuals can compete and win. CRF remains steadfast in its commitment to holding these agencies accountable, replacing reflexive government overreach with the reasoned, transparent government necessary to sustain America’s economic vitality and long-term prosperity.