Amending Executive Order 12866 on Regulatory Planning and Review

This executive order amends the 1993 regulatory review framework (EO 12866) by removing the Vice President's formal role in the regulatory process and transferring those functions to the OMB Director and the White House Chief of Staff. It also updates several White House position titles to reflect organizational changes, including adding the Assistant to the President for Homeland Security to the regulatory review group.

Federal Register Open PDF 67 FR 9385

Key directives

Remove Vice President from all regulatory planning and review functions in EO 12866
Transfer Vice President's convening authority to OMB Director
Transfer conflict resolution assistance role to Chief of Staff
Update position titles: OSTP Director, Intergovernmental Affairs Deputy Assistant, CEQ Chairman
Add Assistant to the President for Homeland Security to regulatory review group

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

Vice President removed from regulatory review process; OMB Director assumes convening authority
Chief of Staff assumes conflict resolution assistance role
Homeland Security advisor added to regulatory review group

Near term (90d)

Agencies must adjust internal regulatory submission procedures to new White House contact points

Long term

Structural centralization of regulatory control in OMB Director and Chief of Staff
Potential shift in interagency dynamics with Vice President's reduced institutional role

Risks & tensions

Reduces institutional check by removing independently elected official from regulatory oversight
Centralizes power in OMB Director and Chief of Staff—both direct presidential appointees without independent political base
Potential tension: VP role reduction may reflect Cheney-Bush power arrangement specifics rather than permanent institutional reform
Text does not specify transition procedures for pending regulatory reviews