Removing Redundant, Obsolete, and Inefficient Provisions From the Regulations Governing Restrictions on Lobbying

[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 73 (Thursday, April 16, 2026)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 20334-20335]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2026-07431]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

15 CFR Part 28

[Docket No. 260311-0068]
RIN 0605-AA73


Removing Redundant, Obsolete, and Inefficient Provisions From the 
Regulations Governing Restrictions on Lobbying

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, Department of Commerce (Commerce).

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: By this rule, Commerce is amending its regulations governing 
restrictions on lobbying. Specifically, Commerce is amending said 
regulations by removing two redundant and unnecessary compliance 
provisions and by removing two reporting requirements that are obsolete 
and unwarranted. The intended effects of this action are to eliminate 
redundancy, promote administrative efficiency, and update Commerce's 
lobbying regulations to properly reflect and implement the underlying 
statutory authority in its current form.

DATES: The rule is effective May 18, 2026.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Daniel Sweeney, Senior Counsel, Office 
of the General Counsel, at (202) 482-1395.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Commerce is amending its regulations at 15 
CFR part 28, ``New Restrictions on Lobbying.'' These regulations 
implement section 319 of Public Law 101-121 (31 U.S.C. 1352), which 
established government-wide restrictions on the use of appropriated 
funds for lobbying activities in connection with federal contracts, 
grants, loans, and cooperative agreements. The primary purpose of part 
28 is to ensure transparency and accountability by requiring 
certification and disclosure of lobbying activities intended to 
influence federal executive or legislative branch officials regarding 
such federal awards.
    Commerce, along with numerous other executive branch agencies, 
originally established these regulations through a government-wide 
interim final rule published on February 26, 1990 (55 FR 6735, 6748).
    On January 15, 2026, Commerce issued a proposed rule to amend part 
28

[[Page 20335]]

by removing Sec. Sec.  28.405 and 28.410, because they merely restate 
31 U.S.C. 1352(c)(3) and 31 U.S.C. 1352(f), and by removing 28.600 and 
28.605, because they establish reporting requirements that are no 
longer statutorily required or warranted (91 FR 1724). As stated in the 
proposed rule, these removals are intended to streamline part 28, 
eliminate regulatory clutter, reduce the possibility of confusion, and 
promote administrative efficiency.

Public Comment

    Commerce requested comment on the proposed rule. The comment period 
closed on February 17, 2026. No comments were received during the 
public comment period, and no changes were made from the proposed rule.

Classification

Executive Order 12866

    This rule has been determined to be not significant for the 
purposes of Executive Order 12866.

Executive Order 14192

    This rule is an Executive Order 14192 deregulatory action.

Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA)

    The Chief Counsel for Regulation of the Department of Commerce 
certified to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business 
Administration (SBA) that this rule will not have a significant 
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. The factual 
basis for the certification was published in the proposed rule and is 
not repeated here. No comments were received regarding this 
certification. As a result, a regulatory flexibility analysis was not 
required, and none was prepared.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    This rule contains no new information collection requirements under 
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

List of Subjects in 15 CFR Part 28

    Administrative practice and procedure, Government contracts, Grant 
programs, Grants administration, Loan programs, Lobbying, Penalties, 
Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

    Dated: April 13, 2026.
Paul Dabbar,
Deputy Secretary of Commerce.

    Accordingly, for the reasons set forth above, part 28 of title 15 
of the Code of Federal Regulations is amended as follows:

PART 28--NEW RESTRICTIONS ON LOBBYING

0
1. The authority citation for part 28 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  Sec. 319, Pub. L. 101-121 (31 U.S.C. 1352; 5 U.S.C. 
301; Sec. 4, as amended, and sec. 5, Pub. L. 101-410, 104 Stat. 890 
(28 U.S.C. 2461 note); Pub. L. 104-134, 110 Stat. 1321, 28 U.S.C. 
2461 note.

Subpart D--Penalties and Enforcement


Sec.  28.405   [Removed and Reserved]

0
2. Remove and reserve Sec.  28.405.


Sec.  28.410   [Removed and Reserved]

0
3. Remove and reserve Sec.  28.410.

Subpart F [Removed and Reserved]

0
4. Remove and reserve subpart F.
[FR Doc. 2026-07431 Filed 4-15-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DT-P