Rights Reclaimed: The Sackett v. EPA Triumph for Property Rights & Small Government

Published June 5, 2023
Supreme Court

The Supreme Court ruling in the United States’ case of Sackett v. EPA has emerged as a pivotal decision, significantly impacting individual liberty, the constitutional balance of power, and the containment of the regulatory state for the first time in decades. The verdict mandates that wetlands must be categorically “wet” and directly connected to navigable waters. As a result, landowners, developers, farmers, and other property holders now have clearer guidelines about whether they need to seek approval from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency before using their properties for routine purposes.