The Federal Register is a daily journal of federal government activity that includes presidential documents, proposed and final rules, and public notices. It is a common measure of an administration’s regulatory activity.

 

During the week of August 19 to August 23, the number of pages in the Federal Register increased by 1,738 pages, bringing the year-to-date total to 44,536 pages. The week’s Federal Register featured a total of 568 documents, including 447 notices, two presidential documents, 51 proposed rules, and 68 final rules.

 

Two final rules were deemed significant under E.O. 12866—meaning that they may have large impacts on the economy, environment, public health, or state or local governments. Significant actions may also conflict with presidential priorities or other agency rules.

 

During the same week in 2018, the number of pages in the Federal Register increased by 1,484 pages for a year-to-date total of 43,500 pages. As of August 23, the 2019 total led the 2018 total by 1,036 pages.

 

The Trump administration has added an average of 1,310 pages to the Federal Register each week in 2019 as of August 23. Over the course of 2018, the Trump administration added an average of 1,301 pages to the Federal Register each week. During the Obama administration, the Federal Register increased by an average of 1,658 pages per week.

 

According to government data, the Federal Register hit an all-time high of 95,894 pages in 2016.

 

Ballotpedia maintains page counts and other information about the Federal Register as part of its Administrative State Project. The project is a neutral, nonpartisan encyclopedic resource that defines and analyzes the administrative state, including its philosophical origins, legal and judicial precedents, and scholarly examinations of its consequences. The project also monitors and reports on measures of federal government activity.