The Trump Administration: Change By Appointment

The election of Donald J. Trump as the 45th President of the United States, along with the Republican control of the majority of both the House of Representatives and the Senate, will likely result in significant changes in U.S. financial services, energy, and commodities laws and markets.  The most sweeping changes may require legislation and may generate controversy within Congress – in particular in the U.S. Senate.  This is due to differences in views between the Democrats and Republicans regarding economic regulation; these differences are amplified by the very narrow majority held by Senate Republicans and the Senate's existing rules that allow the minority to "filibuster" (or block) a bill absent 60 votes necessary for "cloture" to override the filibuster.  However, even in the absence of legislation, President-elect Trump and the Republican Congress will have numerous means to reform and reshape economic regulation.