White House brags about public opinion on regulatory actions

The agency’s latest semiannual summary of regulatory actions reflects the results of the Biden Administration’s “coordinated efforts to increase public engagement in rulemaking, particularly early in the process,” according to a White House announcement.

“The agencies expanded discussions on their public participation activities, detailing key advances in public outreach and notable instances of public participation” under the executive order and guidance from OMB’s Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, the release said.

For example, the document stated that: the Department of Labor’s regulations for the national apprenticeship system “were developed with the help of extensive public engagement, even before the publication of the proposed rule”; the Bureau of Land Management “conducted extensive outreach to the public and tribes” both before publication and during the public comment period on the proposed rule on solar and wind energy development; and the Department of Veterans Affairs consulted with veterans organizations and caregiver advocacy groups when proposing changes to its Family Caregiver Assistance Program.

The document also cites plans to request the opinion of the Food and Nutrition Service on changes to the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children and to request that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration update the methodology for determining whether a motor carrier is unfit to operate commercial vehicles.

Here you will find a breakdown of the “Single Programme of Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions for Spring 2024” by agency.