Reducing Regulatory Burdens (E.O. 13610)

Summary

Tells government agencies to regularly review their rules to find and remove or change ones that are too costly or no longer needed.

What problem does this solve?

Government rules, while important for safety and health, can become outdated and create unnecessary costs and paperwork for people and businesses. This order requires agencies to regularly review their old rules, with public input, to get rid of or simplify the ones that are no longer justified.

What does this order do?

Requires public participation in reviewing regulations

Directs agencies to regularly invite the public, including individuals and state, local, and tribal governments, to suggest which regulations should be reviewed and how they could be improved.

Sets priorities for regulatory review

Tells agencies to prioritize reviewing rules that could result in large monetary savings or paperwork reductions. Gives special attention to rules that affect small businesses.

Establishes regular reporting and accountability

Requires agencies to report on their review progress to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) twice a year and to make these reports public.

Makes regulatory review an ongoing process

Builds on a previous order to ensure that agencies continuously review their existing rules, rather than just doing it once, to keep regulations effective and not overly burdensome.

Who does this affect?

Federal agencies
Small businesses
The general public

What is the real world impact?

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Improves government efficiency and reduces costs

Creates a permanent process for agencies to review existing regulations. This helps remove outdated or ineffective rules, which can save money for businesses and the public, especially during difficult economic times.

When does this start?

This order became effective on May 10, 2012, and sets specific deadlines for agency reports.

Agency reporting deadlines

Agencies must submit draft reports on their review progress to OIRA on September 10, 2012, and then on the second Monday of January and July each year after.