Rule2026-01243
Eliminating the Census Bureau's Redundant Regulatory Part Related to Public Information and Disclosure
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 23, 2026
Effective
January 23, 2026
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentCensus Bureau
Abstract
By this rule, the Census Bureau (Bureau) is eliminating a part of the Code of Federal Regulations that consists solely of a single provision cross-referencing another part of the Code. This action is necessary to streamline and simplify the Bureau's regulations. The intended effect of this action is to reduce administrative clutter without altering any substantive rights or obligations.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 15 (Friday, January 23, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 15 (Friday, January 23, 2026)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 2849]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-01243]
[[Page 2849]]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Census Bureau
15 CFR Part 60
[Docket No. 260108-0015]
RIN 0607-AA68
Eliminating the Census Bureau's Redundant Regulatory Part Related
to Public Information and Disclosure
AGENCY: Census Bureau, Department of Commerce
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: By this rule, the Census Bureau (Bureau) is eliminating a part
of the Code of Federal Regulations that consists solely of a single
provision cross-referencing another part of the Code. This action is
necessary to streamline and simplify the Bureau's regulations. The
intended effect of this action is to reduce administrative clutter
without altering any substantive rights or obligations.
DATES: The rule is effective January 23, 2026.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shannon Wink, Program Analyst, Policy
Coordination Office, 301-763-6440, <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#4f3f2c20613f2023262c3661202929262c2a0f2c2a213c3a3c61282039"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="7202111d5c021d1e1b110b5c1d14141b11173211171c0107015c151d04">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
This rule affects 15 CFR part 60, which pertains to public access
to the Bureau's records under various statutes, including the Freedom
of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552. The sole regulation within 15
CFR part 60 is Sec. 60.1. It states that the applicable rules and
procedures are found at 15 CFR part 4, which contains the regulations
governing disclosure of government information for the Department of
Commerce (Department) at large.
Historically, the Bureau's own agency-specific disclosure
regulations were set forth in 15 CFR part 60. However, those agency-
specific regulations were rendered obsolete when they were superseded
by the comprehensive, Department-wide FOIA regulations located at 15
CFR part 4. In a final rule published on September 8, 1992 (57 FR
40841), the Bureau revised 15 CFR part 60 to reflect this supersession
and consolidation. Specifically, the 1992 amendment removed Sec. Sec.
60.2 through 60.11 and revised Sec. 60.1 to formally direct readers to
the comprehensive disclosure regulations at 15 CFR part 4. Thus, as a
result of the 1992 amendment, the sole regulation within 15 CFR part 60
is simply an administrative cross-reference to 15 CFR part 4.
II. Discussion
By this rule, the Bureau is eliminating Sec. 60.1 and therefore 15
CFR part 60 in its entirety. As discussed above, Sec. 60.1 is simply
an administrative cross-reference to the comprehensive, Department-wide
disclosure regulations at 15 CFR part 4. While this cross-reference may
have been somewhat useful when the comprehensive disclosure regulations
were newly promulgated, it no longer serves any meaningful, independent
function. The Department-wide regulations at 15 CFR part 4 are easy to
locate and fully satisfy the Bureau's obligation to implement FOIA. See
5 U.S.C. 552(a)(1), (4)(A)(i)-(ii), (6)(E)(i)-(ii) (requiring each
agency to promulgate certain disclosure-related regulations). Indeed,
no statutory authority requires the Bureau to promulgate and maintain a
separate cross-reference to 15 CFR part 4. Accordingly, the Bureau has
determined that maintaining such a cross-reference is unwarranted, as
it effectively amounts to regulatory clutter and it also creates some
potential for confusion (particularly with respect to the lack of
similar cross-references for other Department-wide regulations).
Eliminating Sec. 60.1, and therefore 15 CFR part 60 in its entirety,
is consistent with the Department's broader policy and effort to remove
regulations that are not statutorily required and do not serve any
compelling function. This elimination will streamline the Bureau's
regulations without altering any substantive rights or obligations.
III. Regulatory Certifications
A. Administrative Procedure Act
Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), the Department finds good cause to
waive the prior notice and opportunity for public participation
requirements of the Administrative Procedure Act for this final rule.
The Department considers this rule to be uncontroversial, and has
determined that prior notice and opportunity for public participation
is unnecessary, because this rule only removes an entirely unnecessary
cross-reference to other applicable regulations; public participation
could not justify the continued maintenance of 15 CFR part 60. For the
same reasons, the Department has determined that delaying the
effectiveness of these amendments would be contrary to the public
interest. The language being removed by this rule serves no meaningful,
independent purpose and effectively amounts to regulatory clutter; its
removal will immediately benefit the public at little to no cost. The
Department therefore finds good cause to waive the public notice and
comment period under 553(b)(B) and to waive the 30-day delay in
effectiveness under 553(d).
B. Executive Orders 12866, 14192, 13132
The Office of Management and Budget has determined this rule is not
significant pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 12866. This rule is an
E.O. 14192 deregulatory action. This rule does not contain policies
having federalism implications as the term is defined in E.O. 13132.
C. Regulatory Flexibility Act
Because a notice of proposed rulemaking and an opportunity for
public participation are not required to be given for this rule by 5
U.S.C. 553(b)(B), the analytical requirements of the Regulatory
Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) are not applicable. Accordingly,
no regulatory flexibility analysis is required, and none has been
prepared.
D. Paperwork Reduction Act
This rule will not impose additional reporting or recordkeeping
requirements under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3501
et seq.
List of Subjects for 15 CFR Part 60
Archives and records, Freedom of information.
Dated: January 20, 2026.
George Cook,
Chief of Staff to the Under Secretary for Economic Affairs performing
the non-exclusive functions and duties of the Director of the Census
Bureau.
PART 60--[REMOVED AND RESERVED]
0
For the reasons set forth in the preamble and under the authority of 5
U.S.C. 552, 13 U.S.C. 4, and 5 U.S.C. 301, the Census Bureau removes
and reserves 15 CFR part 60.
[FR Doc. 2026-01243 Filed 1-22-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P
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