Managing the Federal Rulemaking Process

GSA is currently testing reCAPTCHA on the beta.Regulations.gov site. reCAPTCHA is part of ongoing efforts to support the integrity of the rulemaking process and manage the role of software-generated comments. reCAPTCHA is a proven tool to ensure that comments are submitted by real people. Note that commenters always have the option to submit comments anonymously. See the Beta FAQs for additional information.

The automatic redirect to the modernized version of Regulations.gov has been successful. The goal is to increase exposure to the new site and encourage input on the design. Redirects will be gradually increased over time. The scheduled banner is posted on Regulations.gov in advance of every redirect.

GSA has also launched a pilot to test a new application programming interface (API) to support better automated downloads from Regulations.gov, as well as enable a new API to support automated comment uploads. The GSA blog is now live at gsa.gov/blog.

GSA is exploring Public and Federal agency involvement in the Rulemaking Process to better understand:

The Mission of the Office Regulation Management is to:
  • Enable the public to provide comments on pending regulations
  • Support Federal agencies as they develop regulations, including management of agencies’ recordkeeping systems, known as dockets, as well as review of public comments
  • Support the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs at the Office of Management and Budget in its review of significant regulations and information collections
 The Vision of the Office of Regulation Management is to improve public policy outcomes by streamlining the rulemaking process while strengthening the integrity and security of regulatory information through technology modernization and data analysis strategies. Specifically:
  • Improve agencies’ ability to review and process massive volumes of public comments
  • Improve agencies’ ability to manage “fake comments,” or comments that have been submitted under false identities
  • Share regulatory data across systems to enable both policy makers and members of the public to have a clearer picture of the impacts and relationships across rulemakings
  • Improve both agency and public useability and access to regulatory information through improved user interfaces, workflows, reporting tools, and more.

Join the conversation: Please visit the beta site and click the feedback button at the top right hand corner of any page and leave your input.

Please contact erulemaking@gsa.gov with any questions.

Last Reviewed: 2020-08-13