OMB issues guidance for implementing executive order on agency accountability
On April 17, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued a memorandum providing guidance for historically independent regulatory agencies to comply with regulatory provisions in Executive Order (EO) 14215. The EO “seeks to ensure Presidential supervision of the Executive Branch.” EO 14215 amended a prior EO to include independent regulatory agencies in the new centralized regulatory review process led by the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA). The guidance outlined an implementation timeline, requiring agencies to begin submitting significance determination requests for regulatory actions by April 21, and to identify Regulatory Policy Officers and Regulatory Seconds by the same date. The memo also included a detailed FAQ regarding the relevant EOs and their impact.