The purposes of this subchapter are to—(1) minimize the paperwork burden for individuals, small businesses, educational and nonprofit institutions, Federal contractors, State, local and tribal governments, and other persons resulting from the collection of information by or for the Federal Government;
(2) ensure the greatest possible public benefit from and maximize the utility of information created, collected, maintained, used, shared and disseminated by or for the Federal Government;
(3) coordinate, integrate, and to the extent practicable and appropriate, make uniform Federal information resources management policies and practices as a means to improve the productivity, efficiency, and effectiveness of Government programs, including the reduction of information collection burdens on the public and the improvement of service delivery to the public;
(4) improve the quality and use of Federal information to strengthen decisionmaking, accountability, and openness in Government and society;
(5) minimize the cost to the Federal Government of the creation, collection, maintenance, use, dissemination, and disposition of information;
(6) strengthen the partnership between the Federal Government and State, local, and tribal governments by minimizing the burden and maximizing the utility of information created, collected, maintained, used, disseminated, and retained by or for the Federal Government;
(7) provide for the dissemination of public information on a timely basis, on equitable terms, and in a manner that promotes the utility of the information to the public and makes effective use of information technology;
(8) ensure that the creation, collection, maintenance, use, dissemination, and disposition of information by or for the Federal Government is consistent with applicable laws, including laws relating to—(A) privacy and confidentiality, including section 552a of title 5;
(B) security of information, including section 11332 of title 40 11 See References in Text note below. ; and
(C) access to information, including section 552 of title 5;
(9) ensure the integrity, quality, and utility of the Federal statistical system;
(10) ensure that information technology is acquired, used, and managed to improve performance of agency missions, including the reduction of information collection burdens on the public; and
(11) improve the responsibility and accountability of the Office of Management and Budget and all other Federal agencies to Congress and to the public for implementing the information collection review process, information resources management, and related policies and guidelines established under this subchapter.
(Added Pub. L. 104–13, § 2, May 22, 1995, 109 Stat. 163; amended Pub. L. 106–398, § 1 [[div. A], title X, § 1064(b)], Oct. 30, 2000, 114 Stat. 1654, 1654A–275; Pub. L. 107–217, § 3(l)(3), Aug. 21, 2002, 116 Stat. 1301.)
Editorial Notes
References in TextSection 11332 of title 40, referred to in par. (8)(B), was repealed by Pub. L. 107–296, title X, § 1005(a)(1), Nov. 25, 2002, 116 Stat. 2272, and Pub. L. 107–347, title III, § 305(a), Dec. 17, 2002, 116 Stat. 2960.
Prior ProvisionsA prior section 3501, added Pub. L. 96–511, § 2(a), Dec. 11, 1980, 94 Stat. 2812; amended Pub. L. 99–500, § 101(m) [title VIII, § 811], Oct. 18, 1986, 100 Stat. 1783–308, 1783–335, and Pub. L. 99–591, § 101(m) [title VIII, § 811], Oct. 30, 1986, 100 Stat. 3341–308, 3341–335, related to purposes of this chapter prior to the general amendment of this chapter by Pub. L. 104–13.
Another prior section 3501, Pub. L. 90–620, Oct. 22, 1968, 82 Stat. 1302, related to information for Federal agencies, prior to the general amendment of this chapter by Pub. L. 96–511.
Amendments2002—Par. (8)(B). Pub. L. 107–217 substituted “section 11332 of title 40” for “the Computer Security Act of 1987 (Public Law 100–235)”.
2000—Pub. L. 106–398 substituted “subchapter” for “chapter” in introductory provisions and in par. (11).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 2000 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 106–398 effective 30 days after Oct. 30, 2000, see section 1 [[div. A], title X, § 1065] of Pub. L. 106–398, Oct. 30, 2000, 114 Stat. 1654, formerly set out as an Effective Date note under former section 3531 of this title.
Effective DatePub. L. 104–13, § 4, May 22, 1995, 109 Stat. 185, provided that:
“(a) In General.—Except as otherwise provided in this section, this Act [enacting this chapter, amending section 91 of Title 13, Census, and enacting provisions set out as a note under section 101 of this title] and the amendments made by this Act shall take effect on October 1, 1995.
“(b) Authorization of Appropriations.—Section 3520 [now 3521] of title 44, United States Code, as amended by this Act, shall take effect on the date of enactment of this Act [May 22, 1995].
“(c) Delayed Application.—In the case of a collection of information for which there is in effect on September 30, 1995, a control number issued by the Office of Management and Budget under chapter 35 of title 44, United States Code—“(1) the amendments made by this Act [enacting this chapter and amending section 91 of Title 13] shall apply to the collection of information beginning on the earlier of—“(A) the first renewal or modification of that collection of information after September 30, 1995; or
“(B) the expiration of its control number after September 30, 1995.
“(2) prior to such renewal, modification, or expiration, the collection of information shall be subject to chapter 35 of title 44, United States Code, as in effect on September 30, 1995.”
Short TitleThis chapter is popularly known as the “Paperwork Reduction Act”.
Source Code Harmonization And Reuse in Information TechnologyPub. L. 118–187, Dec. 23, 2024, 138 Stat. 2638, provided that:
Implementation of Technology for Classification and DeclassificationPub. L. 118–31, div. G, title VI, § 7605, Dec. 22, 2023, 137 Stat. 1098, provided that:
“(a) In General.—Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 22, 2023], the Administrator of the Office of Electronic Government (in this section referred to as the ‘Administrator’) shall, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, the Director of National Intelligence, the Public Interest Declassification Board, the Director of the Information Security Oversight Office, and the head of the National Declassification Center of the National Archives and Records Administration—“(1) research a technology-based solutions [sic]—“(A) to support efficient and effective systems for classification and declassification; and
“(B) to be implemented on an interoperable and federated basis across the Federal Government; and
“(2) submit to the President and Congress, including the congressional intelligence committees [Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate and Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives], the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, the Committee on Foreign Relations, the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate, and the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on Oversight and Accountability, the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives, recommendations regarding a technology-based solutions [sic] described in paragraph (1).
“(b) Report.—Not later than 540 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall submit to Congress a classified report describing actions taken to implement the recommendations under subsection (a)(2).”
21st Century Integrated Digital ExperiencePub. L. 115–336, Dec. 20, 2018, 132 Stat. 5025, provided that:
Federal Management and Promotion of Electronic Government ServicesPub. L. 107–347, title II, Dec. 17, 2002, 116 Stat. 2910, as amended by Pub. L. 108–271, § 8(b), July 7, 2004, 118 Stat. 814; Pub. L. 108–281, § 1, Aug. 2, 2004, 118 Stat. 889, provided that:
Information Security Responsibilities of Certain AgenciesPub. L. 107–347, title III, § 301(c)(1)(A), Dec. 17, 2002, 116 Stat. 2955, provided that: “Nothing in this Act [see Tables for classification] (including any amendment made by this Act) shall supersede any authority of the Secretary of Defense, the Director of Central Intelligence, or other agency head, as authorized by law and as directed by the President, with regard to the operation, control, or management of national security systems, as defined by [former] section 3542(b)(2) of title 44, United States Code [see now 44 U.S.C. 3552(b)(6)].”
[Reference to the Director of Central Intelligence or the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency in the Director’s capacity as the head of the intelligence community deemed to be a reference to the Director of National Intelligence. Reference to the Director of Central Intelligence or the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency in the Director’s capacity as the head of the Central Intelligence Agency deemed to be a reference to the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. See section 1081(a), (b) of Pub. L. 108–458, set out as a note under section 3001 of Title 50, War and National Defense.]
Atomic Energy Act of 1954Pub. L. 107–347, title III, § 301(c)(2), Dec. 17, 2002, 116 Stat. 2955, provided that: “Nothing in this Act [see Tables for classification] shall supersede any requirement made by or under the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.). Restricted data or formerly restricted data shall be handled, protected, classified, downgraded, and declassified in conformity with the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.).”
Confidential Information Protection and Statistical EfficiencyPub. L. 107–347, title V, Dec. 17, 2002, 116 Stat. 2962, which related to confidential information protection and statistical efficiency, was repealed by Pub. L. 115–435, title III, § 302(c)(1), title IV, § 403, Jan. 14, 2019, 132 Stat. 5552, 5557, effective 180 days after Jan. 14, 2019, and restated as parts A to C of subchapter III of this chapter. See Transitional and Savings Provisions note set out under section 3561 of this title.
Waiver of Paperwork ReductionPub. L. 101–508, title IV, § 4711(f), Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1388–187, provided that: “Chapter 35 of title 44, United States Code, and Executive Order 12291 [formerly set out as a note under section 601 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees] shall not apply to information and regulations required for purposes of carrying out this Act [see Tables for classification] and implementing the amendments made by this Act.”
Executive Documents
Ex. Ord. No. 13556. Controlled Unclassified Information
Ex. Ord. No. 13556, Nov. 4, 2010, 75 F.R. 68675, provided:
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered as follows:
Section 1. Purpose. This order establishes an open and uniform program for managing information that requires safeguarding or dissemination controls pursuant to and consistent with law, regulations, and Government-wide policies, excluding information that is classified under Executive Order 13526 of December 29, 2009, or the Atomic Energy Act, as amended.
At present, executive departments and agencies (agencies) employ ad hoc, agency-specific policies, procedures, and markings to safeguard and control this information, such as information that involves privacy, security, proprietary business interests, and law enforcement investigations. This inefficient, confusing patchwork has resulted in inconsistent marking and safeguarding of documents, led to unclear or unnecessarily restrictive dissemination policies, and created impediments to authorized information sharing. The fact that these agency-specific policies are often hidden from public view has only aggravated these issues.
To address these problems, this order establishes a program for managing this information, hereinafter described as Controlled Unclassified Information, that emphasizes the openness and uniformity of Government-wide practice.
Sec. 2. Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI).
(a) The CUI categories and subcategories shall serve as exclusive designations for identifying unclassified information throughout the executive branch that requires safeguarding or dissemination controls, pursuant to and consistent with applicable law, regulations, and Government-wide policies.
(b) The mere fact that information is designated as CUI shall not have a bearing on determinations pursuant to any law requiring the disclosure of information or permitting disclosure as a matter of discretion, including disclosures to the legislative or judicial branches.
(c) The National Archives and Records Administration shall serve as the Executive Agent to implement this order and oversee agency actions to ensure compliance with this order.
Sec. 3. Review of Current Designations.
(a) Each agency head shall, within 180 days of the date of this order:
(1) review all categories, subcategories, and markings used by the agency to designate unclassified information for safeguarding or dissemination controls; and
(2) submit to the Executive Agent a catalogue of proposed categories and subcategories of CUI, and proposed associated markings for information designated as CUI under section 2(a) of this order. This submission shall provide definitions for each proposed category and subcategory and identify the basis in law, regulation, or Government-wide policy for safeguarding or dissemination controls.
(b) If there is significant doubt about whether information should be designated as CUI, it shall not be so designated.
Sec. 4. Development of CUI Categories and Policies.
(a) On the basis of the submissions under section 3 of this order or future proposals, and in consultation with affected agencies, the Executive Agent shall, in a timely manner, approve categories and subcategories of CUI and associated markings to be applied uniformly throughout the executive branch and to become effective upon publication in the registry established under subsection (d) of this section. No unclassified information meeting the requirements of section 2(a) of this order shall be disapproved for inclusion as CUI, but the Executive Agent may resolve conflicts among categories and subcategories of CUI to achieve uniformity and may determine the markings to be used.
(b) The Executive Agent, in consultation with affected agencies, shall develop and issue such directives as are necessary to implement this order. Such directives shall be made available to the public and shall provide policies and procedures concerning marking, safeguarding, dissemination, and decontrol of CUI that, to the extent practicable and permitted by law, regulation, and Government-wide policies, shall remain consistent across categories and subcategories of CUI and throughout the executive branch. In developing such directives, appropriate consideration should be given to the report of the interagency Task Force on Controlled Unclassified Information published in August 2009. The Executive Agent shall issue initial directives for the implementation of this order within 180 days of the date of this order.
(c) The Executive Agent shall convene and chair interagency meetings to discuss matters pertaining to the program established by this order.
(d) Within 1 year of the date of this order, the Executive Agent shall establish and maintain a public CUI registry reflecting authorized CUI categories and subcategories, associated markings, and applicable safeguarding, dissemination, and decontrol procedures.
(e) If the Executive Agent and an agency cannot reach agreement on an issue related to the implementation of this order, that issue may be appealed to the President through the Director of the Office of Management and Budget.
(f) In performing its functions under this order, the Executive Agent, in accordance with applicable law, shall consult with representatives of the public and State, local, tribal, and private sector partners on matters related to approving categories and subcategories of CUI and developing implementing directives issued by the Executive Agent pursuant to this order.
Sec. 5. Implementation.
(a) Within 180 days of the issuance of initial policies and procedures by the Executive Agent in accordance with section 4(b) of this order, each agency that originates or handles CUI shall provide the Executive Agent with a proposed plan for compliance with the requirements of this order, including the establishment of interim target dates.
(b) After a review of agency plans, and in consultation with affected agencies and the Office of Management and Budget, the Executive Agent shall establish deadlines for phased implementation by agencies.
(c) In each of the first 5 years following the date of this order and biennially thereafter, the Executive Agent shall publish a report on the status of agency implementation of this order.
Sec. 6. General Provisions.
(a) This order shall be implemented in a manner consistent with:
(1) applicable law, including protections of confidentiality and privacy rights;
(2) the statutory authority of the heads of agencies, including authorities related to the protection of information provided by the private sector to the Federal Government; and
(3) applicable Government-wide standards and guidelines issued by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and applicable policies established by the Office of Management and Budget.
(b) The Director of National Intelligence (Director), with respect to the Intelligence Community and after consultation with the heads of affected agencies, may issue such policy directives and guidelines as the Director deems necessary to implement this order with respect to intelligence and intelligence-related information. Procedures or other guidance issued by Intelligence Community element heads shall be in accordance with such policy directives or guidelines issued by the Director. Any such policy directives or guidelines issued by the Director shall be in accordance with this order and directives issued by the Executive Agent.
(c) This order shall not be construed to impair or otherwise affect the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, and legislative proposals.
(d) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
(e) This order shall be implemented subject to the availability of appropriations.
(f) The Attorney General, upon request by the head of an agency or the Executive Agent, shall render an interpretation of this order with respect to any question arising in the course of its administration.
(g) The Presidential Memorandum of May 7, 2008, entitled “Designation and Sharing of Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI)” is hereby rescinded.
Barack Obama.
Making It Easier for America’s Small Businesses and America’s Exporters to Access Government Services to Help Them Grow and Hire
Memorandum of President of the United States, Oct. 28, 2011, 76 F.R. 68049, provided:
Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies
As I outlined in my State of the Union address to the Congress on January 25, 2011, winning the future in the global economy will require a Government that wisely allocates its scarce resources to maximize efficiency and effectiveness so that it can best support American competitiveness, innovation, and job growth. If we are to thrive in the global economy, and make America the best place on Earth to do business, we need to equip our Government with the tools necessary to support innovation and job growth in the 21st century.
Accordingly, we must make it easier for businesses to access the full range of Government programs and services without having to waste effort navigating their way through the Federal bureaucracy. At the same time, we must further streamline and coordinate Federal programs to reduce costs and provide customer-oriented service.
Businesses looking for assistance from the Federal Government should feel like they are interacting with one entity, rather than a number of separate, albeit linked, components. This means adopting a “No Wrong Door” policy that uses technology to quickly connect businesses to the services and information relevant to them, regardless of which agency’s website, call center, or office they go to for help.
In addition, a business’s interactions with the Federal Government should be individualized and efficient. If the private sector can allow consumers to customize interactions so that they receive only the information they want, in the form they want it, so can the Federal Government.
Today, I am directing a first wave of changes focused on both small businesses and businesses of all sizes that want to begin or increase exporting (exporters), because those businesses help drive economic growth and have the most to gain from Federal assistance. We plan to use the resulting improvements as a model for future reforms so that, in time, all businesses and all citizens receive the highest level of customer service when they interact with the Federal Government.
Accordingly, I direct the following:
(1) All executive departments and agencies (agencies) shall work with a Steering Committee co-chaired by the Federal Chief Information Officer, Assistant to the President and Chief Technology Officer, and Chief Performance Officer (the Co-Chairs) to carry out the directives in this memorandum within 90 days of the date of this memorandum, unless a provision of this memorandum expressly states otherwise. The Steering Committee shall include senior policy and technical representatives, appointed by the heads of their respective agencies, from the Departments of State, Defense, Agriculture, Commerce, and Veterans Affairs, the Small Business Administration (SBA), the General Services Administration (GSA), the Export-Import Bank, and other agencies designated by the Co-Chairs. The Co-Chairs and representatives from the Department of Commerce and SBA shall serve as the Executive Committee of the Steering Committee, which shall coordinate the strategy, design, development, launch, and operation of BusinessUSA, a common, open, online platform and web service with dedicated resources that will, as a first step, disseminate core information regarding the Federal Government’s programs and services relevant to small businesses and exporters.
(2) Agencies shall work with the Steering Committee to develop and launch an introductory version of BusinessUSA. BusinessUSA shall be designed, tested, and built with the active feedback of U.S. businesses and relevant online communities. To the extent appropriate, practicable, and permitted by law, the BusinessUSA platform shall integrate related State and local government services as well as those of private sector partners.
(3) Agencies shall make information regarding their small business and export programs and services accessible through BusinessUSA. To accomplish this in a uniform fashion, the Steering Committee shall develop a common set of standards for content available through BusinessUSA, which shall identify the types of programs and services to be included initially on BusinessUSA and a structure for organizing and presenting such information. These standards shall be used by all agencies in the creation, presentation, and delivery of information regarding their programs and services, to the extent practicable and permitted by law.
(4) Agencies shall also work with the Steering Committee to develop new content for BusinessUSA that synthesizes information available across agencies to better serve small businesses and exporters. Among other things, agencies shall work together to aggregate on the BusinessUSA platform statistical, demographic, and other raw Government datasets of particular interest to small businesses and exporters, making Government data more easily accessible and spurring innovative uses of the data through business-oriented web or mobile applications.
(5) Agencies shall integrate BusinessUSA, including ready access to the BusinessUSA website, into their current websites, call centers, and field offices to ensure that small businesses and exporters have access to the wide range of Government programs and services at each entry point into the Federal Government. During the year following the date of this memorandum, agencies shall work with GSA and the Office of Management and Budget to enhance the centralized call center for responding to public questions about Federal programs and services (1–800–FED–INFO) to add expertise with Government programs and services for small businesses and exporters.
(6) (a) Nothing in this memorandum shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
(i) authority granted by law or Executive Order to an agency, or the head thereof; or
(ii) functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(b) BusinessUSA shall be operated by a single hosting agency under the Executive Committee’s coordination. To the extent permitted by law, agencies shall reimburse the hosting agency for the cost of establishing, maintaining, and operating BusinessUSA.
(c) This memorandum shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
(d) This memorandum is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
(7) The Director of the Office of Management and Budget is authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in the Federal Register.
Barack Obama.