Some Administrations are more activist than others. Regulators are not elected officials. Some are political appointees and the vast majority are "career" employees. Regulations are promulgated when Congress passes new laws and the regulations are intended to define the rules of the road. Depending on the Administration in office, this can lean in different directions. Some agencies are very large with thousands of employees and many employees are highly specialized in their field of expertise. Figuring out where to start can be daunting. Tracking regulations and providing comments is a critical component of a legislative strategy whether or not you agree with or like the law passed by Congress. Getting the details right is just as important and having a regulatory strategy is key to having the impact that you want.