In 2005, the number of federal regulators is expected to exceed 2000’s mark by 40 percent. The total number of regulators will be 242,500ââ?¬â??a new record. So says a new study by the Mercatus Center. That means our nation will have more regulators than pharmacists, and way more than aerospace engineers. More than dentists and biologists combined. And that’s just counting federal regulators. The amount of money in the hands of federal regulators will also increase to nearly $40 billion: Five regulatory agencies are expected to spend more than $100 million more on writing and enforcing regulations in 2005 than they did in 2004. These are: * The Environmental Protection Agency, estimated to increase outlays by $667 million in 2005. * Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the Coast Guard, both in the Department of Homeland Security, with increases of $484 million and $297 million, respectively. * The Securities and Exchange Commission (a $312 million increase). * The Patent and Trademark Office (a $243 million increase) * The Food and Drug Administration in the Department of Health and Human Services, with a $182 million increase. * The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in the Department of Justice, budgeted to receive an increase of $119 million.