Obama requests delay on new regs

Jan 23, 2009

President Barack Obama has asked the heads of federal agencies to delay publishing any new regulations to allow his appointees and designees time for review.

The request was sent in a Jan. 20 memorandum from Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel and published in the Jan. 26 Federal Register.

Obama also asked for the withdrawal of any unpublished proposed or final rules sent to the Office of the Federal Register. For final regulations that have been published in the Federal Register, Obama requested the effective date be extended by 60 days and allowed a new 30-day comment period.

Obama's request could potentially delay the promulgation of some federal safety and health standards. A Department of Labor representative did not return numerous calls requesting comment on whether DOL would comply with the request and what, if any, safety and health regulations may be affected by the delay.