The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) issued a statement Thursday applauding U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg’s repeal of administrative rulemaking roadblocks.
The new final rule, published to the Federal Register on March 24, removes the Department’s “internal policies and procedures relating to the issuance of rulemaking and guidance documents from the Code of Federal Regulations,” a summary of the final rule stated. “In addition, this final rule removes regulations concerning the initiation and conduct of enforcement actions, including administrative enforcement proceedings and judicial enforcement actions brought in Federal court.”
“We are appreciative of Secretary Buttigieg’s leadership to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of rulemaking and guidance procedures at the Department of Transportation,” GAMA’s President and CEO Pete Bunce said in a statement. “While some industries may have welcomed a dramatic slowdown in regulations under the previous administration’s philosophy, we believe the law of unintended consequences applies to the one-size-fits-all approach.”
Specifically, the final rule revoked several executive orders issued under the Trump administration: E.O. 13771 of January 30, 2017 (Reducing Regulation and Controlling Regulatory Costs), E.O. 13777 of February 24, 2017 (Enforcing the Regulatory Reform Agenda), E.O. 13891 of October 9, 2019 (Promoting the Rule of Law Through Improved Agency Guidance Documents), and E.O 13892 of October 9, 2019 (Promoting the Rule of Law Through Transparency and Fairness in Civil Administrative Enforcement and Adjudication).
Bunce said the new final rule would correct delays in rules and guidance.
“The aviation industry relies on technical standards to be routinely updated through rulemaking and guidance to address safety and incorporate evolving technology. What our industry experienced over the last few years with rules and guidance being ‘shelved’ when sent from the FAA to DOT has proved to be a significant barrier to progress. We look forward to working with the Department of Transportation and FAA as the general aviation manufacturing industry works to bring innovation and new safety transportation system.”