Proposed Rule2026-05679
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Regulations
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
March 24, 2026
Issuing agencies
Personnel Management Office
Abstract
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) withdraws a proposed rule to amend its Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) regulations published on July 24, 2008. Due to the time that has elapsed, OPM is withdrawing the proposal. OPM will propose amendments to its FOIA regulations in future rulemaking.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 56 (Tuesday, March 24, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 56 (Tuesday, March 24, 2026)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 13978]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-05679]
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Proposed Rules
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of
the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these
notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in
the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
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Federal Register / Vol. 91, No. 56 / Tuesday, March 24, 2026 /
Proposed Rules
[[Page 13978]]
OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT
5 CFR Part 294
RIN 3206-AK53
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Regulations
AGENCY: Office of Personnel Management.
ACTION: Withdrawal of proposed rule.
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SUMMARY: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) withdraws a proposed
rule to amend its Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) regulations
published on July 24, 2008. Due to the time that has elapsed, OPM is
withdrawing the proposal. OPM will propose amendments to its FOIA
regulations in future rulemaking.
DATES: OPM withdraws the proposed rule, published July 24, 2008 at 73
FR 43153, as of March 24, 2026.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kalea Lorenzi by email at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#5e3831373f1e312e3370393128"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="dcbab3b5bd9cb3acb1f2bbb3aa">[email protected]</span></a>
or by telephone at 202-606-3642.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On July 24, 2008, OPM published a notice of
proposed rulemaking (NPRM or proposed rule) titled ``Freedom of
Information Act (FOIA) Regulations'' in the Federal Register. See 73 FR
43153. The NPRM proposed to modify the Freedom of Information Act
(FOIA) regulations to allow for more streamlined submission process and
to update FOIA regulations that had not been updated in many years. The
modernization updates that OPM proposed in the 2008 proposed rule are
outdated due to the time that has elapsed since the publication of the
NPRM, including new developments in case law and amendments to the
FOIA, especially the FOIA Improvement Act of 2016, which strengthened
public access to federal records by codifying disclosure standards,
updated exemptions, and enhanced agency accountability. OPM plans to
make updates to the FOIA regulations in the near future to align with
modern capabilities for submission and processing of FOIA requests.
Accordingly, the 2008 NPRM is withdrawn.
Regulatory Review
OPM has examined the impact of this rule as required by Executive
Orders 12866 and 13563, which 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). A regulatory impact
analysis must be prepared for rules that have an annual effect on the
economy of $100 million or more or adversely affect in a material way
the economy, a sector of the economy, productivity, competition, jobs,
the environment, public health or safety, or State, local, or tribal
governments or communities. This rule is not a ``significant regulatory
action'' under section 3(f) of Executive Order 12866, as supplemented
by Executive Order 13563. Therefore, this rule is not subject to
Executive Order 14192.
Regulatory Flexibility Act
The Director of the Office of Personnel Management certifies that
this regulation will not have a significant impact on a substantial
number of small entities because it applies only to Federal agencies
and employees.
Signing Statement
The Director of OPM, Scott Kupor, reviewed and approved this
document and has authorized the undersigned to electronically sign and
submit this document to the Office of the Federal Register for
publication.
Office of Personnel Management.
Jerson Matias,
Federal Register Liaison.
[FR Doc. 2026-05679 Filed 3-23-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6325-48-P
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