Increasing Efficiency at the Office of the Federal Register
May 14, 2025
May 14, 2025
Summary
Aims to speed up the publication of new government rules and lower the costs for government agencies to publish them.
What problem does this solve?
Publishing new government rules takes too long and costs too much, which slows down the process of removing old regulations. This order requires the government office in charge of publishing to update its systems and review its fees to make the process faster and more affordable.
Who does this affect?
- Federal government agencies
- Office of the Federal Register
- Government Publishing Office
What does this order do?
Reduces publication delays
Requires the Archivist of the United States to work with the Government Publishing Office to make publishing rules faster. This includes modernizing computer systems and cutting unnecessary steps.
Reviews publication fees
Orders a review of the fees charged to government agencies for publishing in the Federal Register. The goal is to make sure the fees are based on the real cost of publication.
Requires reports on progress
Mandates that the Office of the Federal Register submit reports to the Office of Management and Budget. These reports will show current publication times and track improvements made.
Sets a deadline for a follow-up report
Requires a second report on publication times to be submitted by August 22, 2025. This report will measure how much faster the process has become after the changes are made.
What is the real world impact?
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Speeds up the removal of federal regulations
Makes it faster and easier for the administration to remove existing federal rules. The order states that deregulation is a critical priority and that delays in publishing inhibit this agenda.
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Reduces government waste
Aims to make a government office more efficient and lower the fees it charges other agencies. This is intended to save taxpayer money by ensuring fees are based on the actual costs of publishing.
When does this start?
This order takes effect immediately and sets several deadlines for government offices to report on their progress.
Initial report on publication times
Within 15 days of May 9, 2025, the Archivist must submit a report on the average time it takes to publish different types of documents.
Review of publication fees
Within 45 days of May 9, 2025, the Archivist must review the fees for publishing and take steps to make sure they are based on actual costs.
Second report on publication times
By August 22, 2025, the Archivist must submit a second report showing the new average publication times to measure improvement.