Rule2026-00695
Stars and Stripes Media Organization
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
January 15, 2026
Effective
January 15, 2026
Issuing agencies
Defense Department
Abstract
This final rule removes DoD's regulation concerning the internal procedures of the Stars and Stripes Media Organization (often abbreviated as Stripes). The regulation is unnecessary and may be removed from the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) because it does not have an impact or burden to the public.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 10 (Thursday, January 15, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 10 (Thursday, January 15, 2026)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 1706-1707]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-00695]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Office of the Secretary
32 CFR Part 246
[Docket ID: DOD-2023-OS-0058]
RIN 0790-AJ63
Stars and Stripes Media Organization
AGENCY: Office of the Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Public
Affairs (OATSD(PA)), Department of Defense (DoD).
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: This final rule removes DoD's regulation concerning the
internal procedures of the Stars and Stripes Media Organization (often
abbreviated as Stripes). The regulation is unnecessary and may be
removed from the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) because it does not
have an impact or burden to the public.
DATES: This rule is effective on January 15, 2026.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kyle Combs, (703) 695-6290.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
This final rule removes the DoD regulation at 32 CFR part 246,
``Stars and Stripes (S&S) Newspaper and Business Operations,'' because
it addresses internal policy, responsibilities, and procedures for
Stripes. The rule was published on April 22, 1994 (59 FR 19137).
Although a proposed rule was published in the Federal Register (89 FR
30296-30299) on April 23, 2024, for a 60-day public comment period to
update its content and make the public aware of the unique mission of
Stripes, after further review of the proposed rule and the public
comments, which largely addressed internal procedures, the Department
has determined this rule is not necessary. Rulemaking under the
Administrative Procedure Act is not required and internal policy and
procedures governing Stripes will continue to be published in DoD
Directive 5122.11, ``Stars and Stripes (S&S) Newspapers and Business
Operations'' (available at <a href="https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/dodd/512211p.pdf">https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/dodd/512211p.pdf</a>).
II. Discussion of Public Comments and DoD Responses
During the public comment period for the proposed rule, a total of
91 comments were received. Three of the comments were not related to
the rule and are not discussed in this preamble. In general, commenters
were supportive of the Stripes program. The majority of the 88 public
comments advocated for Stripes employees to be allowed to make Freedom
of Information Act (FOIA) requests, to have unescorted access to DoD
facilities to cover events or activities open to those with
installation access even if commercial media did not have the same
unescorted access, or to republish previously classified or controlled
unclassified materials. One commenter raised a concern regarding
Stripes employees being able to make FOIA requests in their official
capacity because section 551 of title 5, United States Code, excludes a
Federal agency from the definition of ``person'' for the purposes of
obtaining information under FOIA. These comments will be considered in
the update to DoD Directive 5122.11.
Some of the comments also advocated for not changing the existing
rule because of perceived concerns that changes would restrict Stripes
in continuing its mission of providing editorially independent news and
information. However, the existing rule is outdated and does not
reflect the current operation of Stripes, only referencing Stripes as a
hardcopy/print publication and not the multi-platform (including web-
based) publication it has become.
III. Notice-and-Comment Rulemaking Is Not Required
It has been determined that publication of this rule removal for
public comment is unnecessary because the underlying rule addresses
internal agency policies and procedures and its removal has no impact
on the public.
IV. Regulatory Impact Analysis
This rule is administrative in nature with no requirements imposed
on the public. This rule does not affect the cost of the program or
require changes on behalf of Stripes subscribers. Stripes is partially
funded through revenue-generating activities as a nonappropriated fund
instrumentality. While Stripes also receives some appropriated funding,
it is required to be funded to the maximum extent possible through the
sale and distribution of the newspapers, other products, authorized
advertising, and other sources of revenue. These internal
[[Page 1707]]
DoD procedures are outlined in DoD Directive 5122.11.
V. Regulatory Compliance Analysis
A. Executive Order 12866, ``Regulatory Planning and Review,'' and
Executive Order 13563, ``Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review''
Executive Orders 12866 and 13563 direct 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). Executive
Order 13563 emphasizes the importance of quantifying both costs and
benefits, of reducing costs, of harmonizing rules, and of promoting
flexibility. This final rule is not a significant regulatory action
under Executive Order 12866.
B. Executive Order 14192, ``Unleashing Prosperity Through
Deregulation''
This rule is not an Executive Order 14192 regulatory action because
this rule is not significant under Executive Order 12866.
C. Congressional Review Act (CRA) (5 U.S.C. 801 et seq.)
This action is subject to the CRA (5 U.S.C. 801 et seq.), and DoD
will submit a rule report to each House of Congress and to the
Comptroller General of the United States. This action is not a ``major
rule'' as defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2).
D. Public Law 96-354, ``Regulatory Flexibility Act'' (5 U.S.C. 601 et
seq.)
The Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs
certified that this rule is not subject to the Regulatory Flexibility
Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) because the rule only addresses the
operations of Stripes, and it would not, if promulgated, have a
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.
E. Sec. 202, Public Law 104-4, ``Unfunded Mandates Reform Act'' (UMRA)
This action does not contain an unfunded mandate of $100 million or
more (in 1995 dollars) in any one year as described in UMRA, 2 U.S.C.
1531-1538, and does not significantly or uniquely affect small
governments.
F. Public Law 96-511, ``Paperwork Reduction Act'' (44 U.S.C. 3501 et
seq.)
This rule does not impose reporting or recordkeeping requirements
under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.
G. Executive Order 13132, ``Federalism''
This action will not have federalism implications as specified in
Executive Order 13132 (64 FR 43255, August 10, 1999), because it is not
expected to have a substantial direct effect on States, on the
relationship between the national government and the States, or on the
distribution of power and responsibilities among the various levels of
government. Accordingly, the requirements of Executive Order 13132 do
not apply to this action.
H. Executive Order 13175, ``Consultation and Coordination With Indian
Tribal Governments''
This action will not have Tribal implications as specified in
Executive Order 13175 (65 FR 67249, November 9, 2000), because it is
not expected to have substantial direct effects on Indian Tribes,
significantly or uniquely affect the communities of Indian Tribal
governments and does not involve or impose any requirements that affect
Indian Tribes. Accordingly, the requirements of Executive Order 13175
do not apply to this action.
List of Subjects in 32 CFR Part 246
Government publications, Newspapers and magazines.
PART 246--[REMOVED]
0
Accordingly, by the authority of 5 U.S.C. 301, 32 CFR part 246 is
removed.
Dated: January 13, 2026.
Aaron T. Siegel,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
[FR Doc. 2026-00695 Filed 1-14-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6001-FR-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on January 15, 2026.
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