Regulatory Relief To Support Economic Recovery
Executive Order 13924, Regulatory Relief To Support Economic Recovery, was issued to help the U.S. economy rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic while preserving public health and safety. The order directs federal agencies to use emergency authorities and other available powers to remove or ease regulatory barriers that hinder economic recovery. Agencies are encouraged to rescind, modify, wa ive, or exempt entities from regulatory standards when doing so would promote job creation and growth, provided such actions remain consistent with law and safety. The order also emphasizes guidance, compliance assistance, and a fair enforcement culture to reassure businesses, especially small businesses, as they reopen and adapt to a changed economy. It requires a review of temporary flexibilities to see which, if made permanent, would further economic recovery, with oversight and reporting to senior White House offices and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The executive order lays out compliance tools (like pre-enforcement rulings and enforcement discretion for good-faith compliance efforts) and fairness principles in enforcement and adjudication. It also clarifies that nothing in the order expands rights or alters core legal authorities, and that actions should respect applicable laws and budget constraints. Overall, the aim is to reduce regulatory friction that slows reopening and recovery, while maintaining essential safeguards.
Key Points
- 1Regulatory relief to accelerate economic recovery: Agencies should identify and, where lawful, rescind, modify, waive, or exempt people or entities from regulatory standards that impede job creation and growth, balancing policy goals with health, safety, and security considerations.
- 2Expanded compliance assistance and enforcement discretion: Agencies should speed up opportunities for pre-enforcement rulings on whether proposed COVID-19 responses comply with statutes/regulations, and consider enforcing discretion for those acting in good faith or following agency guidance (including health guidance from HHS/CDC).
- 3Fairness and transparency in enforcement: Agencies must emphasize fairness—burden of proof on the government, independent adjudicators, public rules of procedure, proportionate penalties, and accountability for enforcement decisions.
- 4Review and potential permanence of flexibilities: Agencies must review temporary regulatory changes made during the pandemic to see which could be made permanent to promote recovery, and report findings to White House budget/economic policy offices.
- 5Implementation and oversight: The Director of the Office of Management and Budget (in coordination with domestic and economic policy staff) will monitor compliance and may issue guidance or deadlines for reviews and reporting; implementation remains within existing legal authorities and budget constraints.