Public Land Agencies, Oira, and Rulemaking24

Abstract

This research examines the role of the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs’ (OIRA) involvement in federal rulemaking. More specifically, this paper presents interview data from agency rule-writers across three public land agencies, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), National Park Service (NPS), and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), along with OIRA staff to better understand OIRA's role in rulemaking processes. Through semi-structured interviews, this paper provides evidence to support that negative perceptions and relationships between OIRA and public land agencies only lengthens and strains rule development. The results suggest important lessons from agency personnel and OIRA staff about how future rulemakings can be strengthened by working on regulatory relationships through new forms of uniformity and consistency.