Building On Regulatory Foundations and Bridging to the Future

The GW Regulatory Studies Center and IBM Center for The Business of Government co-hosted a high level, invitation-only roundtable and reception in Washington, DC commemorating the 30th Anniversary of Executive Order 12866 and 20th Anniversary of Circular A-4.

Opening remarks by Daniel Chenok

Opening remarks by Daniel Chenok

Susan Dudley introduces keynote speaker, Cass Sunstein

Cass Sunstein delivers keynote address

Professor Cass Sunstein spoke on reducing bureaucratic 'sludge'

Attendees at keynote address

Panelists Left to Right: Dan Chenok, Virginia Huth, Don Moynihan, Catherine Sharkey, Dominic Mancini

Panelists Left to Right: Dan Chenok, Virginia Huth, Don Moynihan, Catherine Sharkey, Dominic Mancini

Attendees at the Panel: Paths Forward on Emerging Tech

Breakout discussion: Engaging the Public for More Responsive Regulation

Breakout discussion: Engaging the Public for More Responsive Regulation

Breakout discussion: Is OIRA Still Fit for Purpose?

Breakout discussion: Is OIRA Still Fit for Purpose?

Bridget Dooling leads a discussion: Is OIRA Still Fit for Purpose?

Breakout discussion: Is OIRA Still Fit for Purpose?

Breakout discussion: Is OIRA Still Fit for Purpose?

Breakout discussion: Generative AI applications to rule development

Breakout discussion: Generative AI applications to rule development

Breakout discussion on Improving evidence for retrospective policy analysis

Breakout discussion: Agile Regulation

Breakout discussion: Agile Regulation

OIRA Administrator Ricky Revesz remarks on important regulatory milestones

Reception remarks by current and former OIRA Administrators

Current and former OIRA Administrators at reception

Former OIRA Administrators, Left to Right: Boris Bershteyn, Susan Dudley, John Graham, Sally Katzen

Attendees join Administrator Revesz in toasting OIRA Dep. Administrator Dominic Mancini for receiving a 2023 Presidential Rank Award

Current and former OIRA staff members celebrate anniversaries of important regulatory milestones

Current and former OIRA staff members celebrate anniversaries of important regulatory milestones

Event Highlights and Summary

Agenda  

1:15 – 1:30
Welcome Remarks
Daniel Chenok, IBM Center for The Business of Government
Susan Dudley, GW Regulatory Studies Center

1:30 – 2:00
Keynote
Cass Sunstein, Harvard Law School

2:00 – 3:00
Panel: Lessons Learned and Paths Forward
Featuring Don Moynihan (Georgetown U.), Catherine Sharkey (NYU), Dominic Mancini (OIRA), Virginia Huth (GSA)
Moderated by Daniel Chenok

3:00 – 3:15
Break

3:15 – 4:15
Breakout Sessions

• Engaging the public for more responsive regulation – Steve Balla, The George Washington University. How will emerging technologies affect public engagement in rulemaking? What are the threats and opportunities of generative AI?
• Is OIRA still fit for purpose? – Bridget Dooling, The Ohio State University. In this session we’ll explore OIRA’s role in today’s government and consider whether OIRA is well-positioned to fulfill its various missions into the future. 
• Generative AI applications to rule development & evaluation – David Bray, Distinguished Fellow at the Stimson Center and Andy Fois, Chair of the Administrative Conference of the United States. How should the government get ahead of issues involving the intersection of GenAI and other algorithmic tools in rule development and evaluation, and what are federal administrative agencies are already doing? What are the beneficial uses and risks? How will the Presidential Executive Order of October 30^th 2023 on AI and AI Safety, as well as the follow-up draft OMB guidance to agencies for its implementation, shape additional steps in 2024 and beyond.
• Improving evidence for prospective & retrospective policy analysis – Nick Hart, Data Foundation. How can we leverage Circular A-4 and the Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act to encourage more retrospective evaluation for regulations?
• Agile regulation – Michael Fitzpatrick, Brunswick Group. The National Academy of Public Administration’s recent report will serve as the basis for this discussion. NAPA offered nine tenets for an Agile Regulatory Framework to help federal agencies meet public needs in an increasingly fast-paced and dynamic environment, marked particularly by rapid and impactful technology change.

4:15 – 4:45
Reports from Breakouts

4:45 – 5:00
Closing remarks

5:00-7:00
Reception with remarks from current and former OIRA Administrators 
Ricky Revesz, Paul Ray, Neomi Rao, Boris Bershteyn, Susan Dudley, John Graham, Sally Katzen