Rule2024-27565
Federal Management Regulation; Updating Transportation Management, With Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility Language
Primary source
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Published
November 26, 2024
Effective
November 26, 2024
Issuing agencies
General Services Administration
Abstract
The United States General Services Administration (GSA) is issuing a final rule amending the Federal Management Regulation (FMR). This amendment introduces changes specific to Transportation Management. Following a comprehensive review, GSA decided to eliminate the use of gendered pronouns in this FMR part. The modifications aim to ensure the language aligns with the principles of inclusivity, particularly concerning gender, and to further incorporate language that supports diversity, equity, inclusivity, and accessibility. These changes are grammatical and technical in nature and will not result in additional costs or related policy changes for agencies.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 228 (Tuesday, November 26, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 228 (Tuesday, November 26, 2024)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 93198-93199]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-27565]
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GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION
41 CFR Part 102-117
[FMR Case 2024-03; Docket No. GSA-FMR-2024-0015; Sequence No. 1]
Federal Management Regulation; Updating Transportation
Management, With Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility
Language
AGENCY: Office of Government-wide Policy (OGP), General Services
Administration (GSA).
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: The United States General Services Administration (GSA) is
issuing a final rule amending the Federal Management Regulation (FMR).
This amendment introduces changes specific to Transportation
Management. Following a comprehensive review, GSA decided to eliminate
the use of gendered pronouns in this FMR part. The modifications aim to
ensure the language aligns with the principles of inclusivity,
particularly concerning gender, and to further incorporate language
that supports diversity, equity, inclusivity, and accessibility. These
changes are grammatical and technical in nature and will not result in
additional costs or related policy changes for agencies.
DATES: This final rule is effective on November 26, 2024.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Ron Siegel, Policy Analyst, at
202-702-0840 or gsa-ogp-transportationpolicy@;<a href="http://gsa.gov">gsa.gov</a> for clarification
of content. For information pertaining to status or publication
schedules, contact the Regulatory Secretariat Division at 202-501-4755
or <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#b6f1e5f7e4d3d1e5d3d5f68ad796dec4d3d08b" http: gsa.gov">gsa.gov</a>">GSARegSec@<a href="http://gsa.gov">gsa.gov</a></a>. Please cite ``FMR Case 2024-03''.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
Executive Order (E.O.) 13988, Preventing and Combating
Discrimination on the Basis of Gender Identity or Sexual Orientation,
dated January 20, 2021, establishes a policy ``to prevent and combat
discrimination on the basis of gender identity or sexual orientation,
and to fully enforce Title VII and other laws that prohibit
discrimination on the basis of gender identity or sexual orientation.''
The Federal Government must be a model for diversity, equity,
inclusion,
[[Page 93199]]
and accessibility, where all employees are treated with dignity and
respect. While GSA is not aware of any specific instances where
language in this FMR part has been used to discriminate against an
employee, GSA believes it is important to prevent any potential
discrimination or the appearance of it.
Consistent with the American Psychological Association (APA) Style
Guide, 7th Edition, Publication Manual Section 5.5 guidance on ``Gender
and Pronoun Usage'', GSA is replacing gender-specific pronouns, such as
he, she, his, or her, with more inclusive terminology.
II. Discussion of the Final Rule
A. Summary of Significant Changes
This final rule removes gender-based pronouns from this FMR part
and replaces them with more inclusive language. The grammatical and
technical changes do not alter any definition, operation, or
interpretation of the FMR.
B. Expected Cost Impact to the Public
There is no expected cost imposed upon the public as a result of
this rule since the changes are technical.
III. Executive Orders 12866, 13563, and 14094
Executive Order (E.O.) 12866 (Regulatory Planning and Review)
directs agencies to assess all costs and benefits of available
regulatory alternatives and, if regulation is necessary, to select
regulatory approaches that maximize net benefits (including potential
economic, environmental, public health and safety effects, distributive
impacts, and equity). E.O. 13563 (Improving Regulation and Regulatory
Review) emphasizes the importance of quantifying both costs and
benefits, of reducing costs, of harmonizing rules, and of promoting
flexibility. E.O. 14094 (Modernizing Regulatory Review) amends Section
3(f) of E.O. 12866 and supplements and reaffirms the principles,
structures, and definitions governing contemporary regulatory review
established in E.O. 12866 and E.O. 13563. The Office of Management and
Budget's Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) has
determined that this rule is not a significant regulatory action, and
therefore, was not subject to review under Section 6(b) of E.O. 12866.
IV. Congressional Review Act
OIRA has determined that this rule is not a ``major rule'' under 5
U.S.C. 804(2). Title II, Subtitle E of the Small Business Regulatory
Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 (codified at 5 U.S.C. 801-808), also
known as the Congressional Review Act or CRA, generally provides that
before a rule may take effect, unless excepted, the agency promulgating
the rule must submit a rule report, which includes a copy of the rule,
to each House of the Congress and to the Comptroller General of the
United States. This rule is excepted from CRA reporting requirements
prescribed under 5 U.S.C. 801, as it relates to agency management or
personnel under 5 U.S.C. 804(3)(B).
V. Regulatory Flexibility Act
This final rule will not have a significant economic impact on a
substantial number of small entities within the meaning of the
Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 601, et seq. This final rule is
also exempt from the Administrative Procedure Act pursuant to 5 U.S.C.
553(a)(2) because it applies to agency management or personnel.
Therefore, an Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis was not
performed.
VI. Paperwork Reduction Act
The Paperwork Reduction Act does not apply because the changes to
the FMR do not impose recordkeeping or information collection
requirements, or the collection of information from offerors,
contractors, or members of the public that require the approval of the
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under 44 U.S.C. 3501, et seq.
List of Subjects in 41 CFR Part 102-117
Freight, Government property management, Moving of household goods,
Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Transportation.
Robin Carnahan,
Administrator of General Services.
For the reasons set forth in the preamble, GSA amends 41 CFR part
102-117 as set forth below:
PART 102-117--TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT
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1. The authority citation for 41 CFR part 102-117 continues to read as
follows:
Authority: 31 U.S.C. 3726; 40 U.S.C. 121(c); 40 U.S.C. 501, et
seq.; 46 U.S.C. 55305; 49 U.S.C. 40118.
0
2. Revise the section heading for Sec. 102-117.240 to read as follows:
Sec. 102-117.240 What is my agency's financial responsibility to an
employee who chooses to move all or part of their HHG under the
commuted rate system?
* * * * *
Sec. 102-117.295 [Amended]
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3. Amend Sec. 102-117.295 by, in paragraph (b), removing the words
``his/her'' from the second sentence.
[FR Doc. 2024-27565 Filed 11-25-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P
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