The Biden administration’s regulatory policies have led to an unprecedented surge in costs and bureaucratic hurdles affecting businesses and individuals alike.

A recent analysis of federal regulations under President Joe Biden’s tenure reveals a record-breaking increase in both financial burdens and administrative requirements.

“According to the aggregated collection of self-reported estimates from federal agencies, the cumulative total of regulatory costs under the Biden administration added up to more than $1.8 trillion — far exceeding any preceding administration on record,” the American Action Forum (AAF) stated in its report.

Additionally, the regulatory review found that Biden’s policies contributed an extra 356 million hours of paperwork for businesses across the country, from Wall Street firms to small Main Street establishments.

Biden solidified his reputation as a leader in regulatory expansion last year, with his administration surpassing his 2021 record by introducing rules estimated to cost approximately $1.3 trillion, according to Dan Goldbeck, AAF’s Director of Regulatory Policy.

“The results on the cost side are remarkable. With a grand total of $1.8 trillion in cumulative regulatory costs, the Biden administration leaves its predecessors in the dust,” Goldbeck wrote in a report shared with Secrets on Wednesday.

In comparison, regulatory costs during former President Donald Trump’s tenure remained among the lowest in recent history.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under Biden implemented the most expensive set of regulations, amounting to roughly $1.3 trillion, primarily targeting emissions-related policies.

Trump has pledged to eliminate multiple Biden-era regulations for each new rule his administration introduces, though he has yet to issue an executive order formalizing that commitment.

Reflecting on potential future policy shifts, Goldbeck suggested that regulatory costs are expected to decline under a new Trump administration.

“While the past year’s rulemaking activity may have pushed this sum way over the top, it was built on a steady foundation of agency action in the early years, and although initial details are somewhat scarce, one expects the incoming Trump administration to head in a very different direction. As such, the Biden ‘record’ is likely secure for at least the next few years — and given its sheer scale, for some time thereafter,” Goldbeck noted.