Freedom to Compete Act of 2025

Bill Number

H.R. 4869

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Government Operations and Politics

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-08-01: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Last Updated

2025-09-11T18:50:52Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The Freedom to Compete Act of 2025 aims to permanently incorporate Executive Order 14267 into U.S. law. This executive order focuses on reducing regulatory barriers that hinder competition in the economy, promoting fairer market practices.

Key Provisions

• Codification of Executive Order: The bill declares that Executive Order 14267 (published in the Federal Register on March 28, 2025) will have the full force and effect of law, meaning its directives become statutory requirements rather than temporary executive actions.
• Short Title: The legislation is titled the "Freedom to Compete Act of 2025."

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• This bill transforms an executive order—typically reversible by a future president—into binding federal law, which requires congressional action to amend or repeal.
• It embeds the order's requirements for federal agencies to identify and eliminate anti-competitive regulations (e.g., rules that favor certain businesses over others or stifle innovation) directly into the U.S. Code, elevating them above mere policy guidance.

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: Federal regulatory bodies, such as those in the Departments of Justice, Commerce, and others, must now actively review and revise rules to minimize barriers to competition, potentially leading to streamlined regulations and reduced bureaucracy.
• On Citizens and Businesses: Consumers and small businesses may benefit from increased market competition, lower prices, and more innovation, while larger firms could face greater scrutiny for anti-competitive practices.
• On International Relations: By promoting competitive U.S. markets, the law could strengthen America's economic position globally, influencing trade negotiations and encouraging similar reforms in partner countries, though it may create tensions with nations relying on protectionist policies.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Federal Agencies and Regulators: Directly tasked with implementing changes to reduce regulatory barriers.
• Businesses and Industries: Particularly those in competitive sectors like technology, healthcare, and finance, where reduced barriers could foster entry for new players.
• Consumers: Likely to see indirect benefits through more choices and potentially lower costs.
• Lawmakers and the Executive Branch: Congress gains oversight of the policy, while the president loses unilateral authority to alter it.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Codification ensures the order's provisions are enforceable through courts as statutory law, potentially leading to lawsuits challenging or upholding agency actions under it (anti-competitive barriers refer to government rules that unfairly limit business rivalry).
• Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's authority under Article I to regulate commerce, reinforcing the balance of powers by converting executive policy into legislative mandate.
• Political: This move could bipartisanly support pro-competition agendas but might spark debates over regulatory overreach, with implications for future administrations seeking to adjust economic policies without new legislation.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Williams, Roger [R-TX-25]

Recent Actions

• 2025-08-01: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
• 2025-08-01: Introduced in House
• 2025-08-01: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Freedom to Compete Act of 2025 — issued 2025-08-01 — PDF (1 pages)