Author

Molly Byrne

Molly Byrne is a staff writer at Ballotpedia. Contact us at editor@ballotpedia.org.

Federal Register weekly update: More than 5,000 documents added so far in 2023

Image of the south facade of the White House.

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, accounting for both regulatory and deregulatory actions.

From March 6, 2023, through March 10, 2023, the Federal Register grew by 1,610 pages for a year-to-date total of 15,264 pages.

The Federal Register hit an all-time high of 95,894 pages in 2016.

This week’s Federal Register featured the following 547 documents:

  • 422 notices
  • Three presidential documents
  • 50 proposed rules
  • 72 final rules

Eight proposed rules, including proposed requirements for tobacco product manufacturing from the Food and Drug Administration, and seven final rules, including amendments to the Federal Management Regulation regarding real estate acquisition from the General Services Administration were deemed significant under E.O. 12866—defined by the potential to 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. The Biden administration has issued 76 significant proposed rules, 53 significant final rules, and four significant notices as of March 10.

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.

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Federal Register weekly update: More than 100 significant documents added so far in 2023

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, accounting for both regulatory and deregulatory actions.

From Feb. 27 through March 3, the Federal Register grew by 1,522 pages for a year-to-date total of 13,654 pages.

The Federal Register hit an all-time high of 95,894 pages in 2016.

This week’s Federal Register featured the following 547 documents:

  • 419 notices
  • 12 presidential documents
  • 45 proposed rules
  • 71 final rules

Eleven proposed rules, including proposed revisions of fee schedules for applicants and licensees from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission; eight final rules, including minimum standards for projects funded by the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program from the Federal Highway Administration; and one notice, including approval of rates for inpatient and outpatient medical care provided by Indian Health Service facilities from the Indian Health Service were deemed significant under E.O. 12866—defined by the potential to 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. The Biden administration has issued 68 significant proposed rules, 46 significant final rules, and four significant notices as of March 3.

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.

Additional reading:



OIRA reviewed 39 significant rules in February

Image of the south facade of the White House.

The White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) in February 2023 reviewed 39 significant regulatory actions issued by federal agencies. OIRA approved two of these rules with no changes and approved the intent of 36 rules while recommending changes to their content. One rule was withdrawn from the review process by the issuing agency.

OIRA reviewed 24 significant regulatory actions in February 2022, 16 significant regulatory actions in February 2021, 44 significant regulatory actions in February 2020, 23 significant regulatory actions in February 2019, 20 significant regulatory actions in February 2018, and three significant regulatory actions in February 2017.

OIRA has reviewed a total of 79 significant rules in 2023. The agency reviewed a total of 485 significant rules in 2022, 502 significant rules in 2021, 676 significant rules in 2020, 475 significant rules in 2019, 355 significant rules in 2018, and 237 significant rules in 2017.

As of March 1, 2023, OIRA’s website listed 114 regulatory actions under review.

​​OIRA is responsible for reviewing and coordinating what it deems to be all significant regulatory actions made by federal agencies, with the exception of independent federal agencies. Significant regulatory actions include agency rules that have had or may have a large impact on the economy, environment, public health, or state and local governments and communities. These regulatory actions may also conflict with other regulations or with the priorities of the president.

Additional reading:

 



Federal Register weekly update: 19 significant documents added

Photo of the White House in Washington, D.C.

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, accounting for both regulatory and deregulatory actions.

From February 20 through February 24, the Federal Register grew by 1,670 pages for a year-to-date total of 12,132 pages.

The Federal Register hit an all-time high of 95,894 pages in 2016.

This week’s Federal Register featured the following 428 documents:

  • 334 notices
  • Three presidential documents
  • 52 proposed rules
  • 39 final rules

Eight proposed rules, including an extension of the comment period for proposed energy conservation standards for distribution transformers from the Energy Department, and 11 final rules, including the development of an airport safety management system for certain airports from the Federal Aviation Administration were deemed significant under E.O. 12866—defined by the potential to 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. The Biden administration has issued 57 significant proposed rules, 38 significant final rules, and three significant notices as of February 24.

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.

Additional reading:



Federal Register weekly update: Tops 10,000 pages

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, accounting for both regulatory and deregulatory actions.

From February 13 through February 17, the Federal Register grew by 1,358 pages for a year-to-date total of 10,462 pages.

The Federal Register hit an all-time high of 95,894 pages in 2016.

This week’s Federal Register featured the following 530 documents:

  • 435 notices
  • Two presidential documents
  • 36 proposed rules
  • 57 final rules

Eight proposed rules, including proposed amendments to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (NFS) from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration; two final rules, including revised regulations to implement sections of the Housing Opportunity Through Modernization Act of 2016 from the Housing and Urban Development Department; and one notice, including an extension of the comment period for guidance regarding greenhouse gas and climate change effects from the Council on Environmental Quality were deemed significant under E.O. 12866—defined by the potential to 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. The Biden administration has issued 49 significant proposed rules, 27 significant final rules, and three significant notices as of February 17.

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.

Additional reading:



Federal Register weekly update: More than 3,000 documents issued so far in 2023

Photo of the White House in Washington, D.C.

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, accounting for both regulatory and deregulatory actions.

From February 6 through February 10, the Federal Register grew by 1,548 pages for a year-to-date total of 9,104 pages.

The Federal Register hit an all-time high of 95,894 pages in 2016.

This week’s Federal Register featured the following 564 documents:

  1. 460 notices
  2. Five presidential documents
  3. 34 proposed rules
  4. 65 final rules

Four proposed rules, including proposed long-term school nutrition standards from the Food and Nutrition Service, and one notice, including a request for comments regarding the information collection for a proposed rule concerning oil and gas resources from the Forest Service were deemed significant under E.O. 12866—defined by the potential to 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. The Biden administration has issued 41 significant proposed rules, 25 significant final rules, and two significant notices as of February 10.

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.

Additional reading:



Federal Register weekly update: Highest weekly document total so far in 2023

Image of the south facade of the White House.

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, accounting for both regulatory and deregulatory actions.

From January 30 through February 3, the Federal Register grew by 1,836 pages for a year-to-date total of 7,556 pages.

The Federal Register hit an all-time high of 95,894 pages in 2016.

This week’s Federal Register featured the following 629 documents:

  • 510 notices
  • Four presidential documents
  • 52 proposed rules
  • 63 final rules

Eleven proposed rules, including reforms to modernize regulations of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s renewable energy program from the Ocean Energy Management Bureau, and six final rules, including amendments to the definition of rifle under the Gun Control Act of 1968 and the National Firearms Act of 1938 to include weapons equipped with stabilizing braces that allow the weapon to be fired from the shoulder from the Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Bureau were deemed significant under E.O. 12866—defined by the potential to 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. The Biden administration has issued 37 significant proposed rules, 25 significant final rules, and one significant notice as of February 3.

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.

Additional reading:



OIRA reviewed 39 significant rules in January

Photo of the White House in Washington, D.C.

In January 2023, the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) reviewed 39 significant regulatory actions issued by federal agencies. OIRA approved the intent of 39 rules while recommending changes to their content.

OIRA reviewed 26 significant regulatory actions in January 2022, 132 significant regulatory actions in January 2021, 32 significant regulatory actions in January 2020, 17 significant regulatory actions in January 2019, 20 significant regulatory actions in January 2018, and 87 significant regulatory actions in January 2017.

OIRA has reviewed a total of 39 significant rules in 2023. The agency reviewed a total of 485 significant rules in 2022, 502 significant rules in 2021, 676 significant rules in 2020, 475 significant rules in 2019, 355 significant rules in 2018, and 237 significant rules in 2017.

As of February 1, 2023, OIRA’s website listed 111 regulatory actions under review.

​​OIRA is responsible for reviewing and coordinating what it deems to be all significant regulatory actions made by federal agencies, with the exception of independent federal agencies. Significant regulatory actions include agency rules that have had or may have a large impact on the economy, environment, public health, or state and local governments and communities. These regulatory actions may also conflict with other regulations or with the priorities of the president.

Additional reading:



Federal Register weekly update: Tops 5000 pages

Photo of the White House in Washington, D.C.

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, accounting for both regulatory and deregulatory actions.

From January 23 through January 27, the Federal Register grew by 1,810 pages for a year-to-date total of 5,720 pages.

The Federal Register hit an all-time high of 95,894 pages in 2016.

This week’s Federal Register featured the following 587 documents:

  • 499 notices
  • Four presidential documents
  • 38 proposed rules
  • 46 final rules

Five proposed rules, including consideration of revisions to the regulatory capital framework for the Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation from the Farm Credit Administration, and six final rules, including implementation of the Helping American Victims Affected by Neurological Attacks (HAVANA) Act of 2021 from the State Department were deemed significant under E.O. 12866—defined by the potential to 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. The Biden administration has issued 26 significant proposed rules, 19 significant final rules, and one significant notice as of January 27.

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.

Additional reading:



Federal Register weekly update: 468 documents added

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, accounting for both regulatory and deregulatory actions.

From January 16 through January 20, the Federal Register grew by 1,410 pages for a year-to-date total of 3,910 pages.

The Federal Register hit an all-time high of 95,894 pages in 2016.

This week’s Federal Register featured the following 468 documents:

  • 372 notices
  • Four presidential documents
  • 31 proposed rules
  • 61 final rules

Three proposed rules, including revisions to regulations under the Black Lung Benefits Act regarding authorization of self-insurers from the Workers’ Compensation Programs Office, and seven final rules, including amendments to medical regulations regarding emergent suicide care from the Veterans Affairs Department, were deemed significant under E.O. 12866—defined by the potential to 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. The Biden administration has issued 21 significant proposed rules, 13 significant final rules, and one significant notice as of January 20.

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.

Additional reading: