Many regulations introduced by three-letter federal agencies (such as the EPA, FDA, and ATF) are not laws passed by Congress but rather rules and regulations established by these agencies under authority delegated to them.
These agencies, operating within the executive branch, interpret and enforce federal statutes that Congress allows them to oversee through enabling legislation. While these directives carry the force of law and are legally binding, they are not formal laws enacted through the legislative process, nor are they made by individuals elected to represent the public.
This lack of direct accountability—since Americans do not vote for the officials in these agencies—raises concerns about how such agencies wield substantial power to shape policy and limit freedoms.
Critics argue that this regulatory power sometimes restricts individual rights and imposes significant compliance burdens without the level of public debate, scrutiny, or representation involved in the legislative process.
This has led to constitutional debates around executive overreach, separation of powers, and the potential for these agencies to bypass congressional oversight while imposing rules that affect the lives and rights of American citizens.