OMB Releases 2026 Regulatory Plan and Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions
The Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), in conjunction with the U.S. General Services Administration's (GSA) Regulatory Information Service Center and more than 60 cabinet, executive, and independent agencies, has released the Trump Administration's 2026 Regulatory Plan and Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions.
The Unified Agenda provides the administration's roadmap for regulatory and deregulatory actions expected over the coming year and outlines each agency's longer-term priorities. Consistent with President Trump's regulatory agenda, agencies emphasize reducing regulatory burdens, eliminating outdated or duplicative requirements, expanding consumer choice, promoting domestic manufacturing and investment, and increasing government efficiency.
In this routine offering of insights into regulatory priorities, the Trump Administration highlighted the unprecedented pace of its deregulatory efforts, noting that the president's initiatives generated $211.8 billion in regulatory cost savings during Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25), the largest annual reduction in regulatory costs in U.S. history. Looking ahead, the administration projects approximately $1.5 trillion in regulatory cost savings during FY26, reflecting an even broader government-wide effort to streamline federal regulations and reduce compliance costs.
Across the federal government, agencies continue implementing Executive Order 14192 on Unleashing Prosperity Through Deregulation and Executive Order 14219 on Directing the Repeal of Unlawful Regulations, which direct agencies to review existing regulations, eliminate unnecessary requirements, and identify opportunities to improve efficiency and reduce compliance burdens. Many agencies also highlighted efforts to modernize permitting, procurement, and regulatory processes while encouraging innovation, strengthening domestic manufacturing, and supporting economic competitiveness.
Several agency statements illustrate these priorities. A few examples include:
The Department of Commerce (DOC) reaffirmed its focus on maintaining U.S. economic competitiveness by "promoting exports and foreign direct investment, securing a level playing field for U.S. businesses, and ensuring that technology transfer is consistent with our nation's economic and security interests." DOC also continues to prioritize policies supporting domestic manufacturing, advanced technologies, and export competitiveness.
The Department of War (DOW) emphasized that, pursuant to Executive Order 14219, it is conducting department-wide reviews to identify regulations suitable for repeal, consolidation, or modification. According to DOW, these reviews are intended to reduce compliance burdens, improve regulatory clarity, and enhance operational flexibility while preserving statutory and national security requirements.
The Department of Energy (DOE) reiterated that its mission includes promoting dependable and affordable energy production and distribution while advancing energy efficiency and conservation. DOE stated that its Regulatory Plan reflects a continued commitment to "cut costs, eliminate red tape, reduce regulatory burden, increase consumer choice, and promote market competition and innovation." DOE also highlighted its ongoing review of existing regulations under Executive Orders 14192 and 14219 to identify redundant or outdated regulatory requirements and noted that future appliance standards rulemakings will seek to preserve consumer choice while minimizing regulatory burdens through planned reforms to the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA) Appliance Standards Program.
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)announced a comprehensive effort to modernize the NASA Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (NFS) following Executive Order 14275 on Restoring Common Sense to Federal Procurement. NASA plans to streamline procurement requirements by revising every subchapter of the NFS through seven proposed rulemakings intended to create a more efficient, agile, and accessible federal acquisition framework aligned with broader government procurement reform.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) highlighted several significant deregulatory actions completed during the past year, including rescinding the 2024 Non-Compete Rule, withdrawing the Combating Auto Retail Scams (CARS) Rule, and restoring the pre-2024 Negative Option Rule following federal court decisions. The FTC also emphasized its broader effort to identify and recommend the repeal or revision of anticompetitive regulations across the federal government. Chairman Andrew Ferguson's recommendations to OMB include eliminating or modifying regulations that the FTC believes unnecessarily restrict competition, create barriers to market entry, or favor particular market participants.
Overall, the 2026 Regulatory Plan demonstrates the Trump Administration's continued emphasis on regulatory reform across nearly every federal agency. In addition to expanding government-wide deregulatory initiatives, agencies are prioritizing modernization of procurement systems, strengthening U.S. competitiveness, promoting domestic energy production, encouraging innovation in emerging technologies, and reducing administrative burdens on businesses. The Unified Agenda provides stakeholders with an early indication of forthcoming regulatory actions and offers greater transparency into agency priorities expected to shape federal policy over the next year.