Labor Department Reverses Jan. 7, 2026 OMB Control Number Revision for DOL‑Only Performance Accountability System
More From This Agency
- OSHA Susan Harwood Training Grant Quarterly Progress Report ICR Submitted for OMB Review July 27, 2026
- Proposed Extension of Mine Accident, Injury and Illness Reporting and Quarterly Employment/Coal Production Data Collection July 26, 2026
- Labor Department Seeks Comments on Extending Escape and Evacuation Plans Information Collection July 25, 2026
- Proposed Extension of Hoist Operators' Physical Fitness Data Collection by MSHA July 25, 2026
- MSHA Seeks Comments on Extending Information Collection for Safety Defects, Examinations, Corrections, and Records July 25, 2026
Plain-English Summary
The Labor Department announced it will not implement the revision to the DOL‑Only Performance Accountability, Information, and Reporting System approved on January 7, 2026. Instead, it will keep the collection and reporting requirements that were in effect as of December 2, 2025. The agency will develop a new revision package and submit it through the standard Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) process. The notice serves to clarify the status of OMB Control Number 1205‑0521 pending the new PRA filing.
Current Status
This is a Notice announcing a procedural reversal and continuation of existing requirements, not a final or proposed rule.
What This Means
The Labor Department determined that the January 7, 2026 approval should have gone through the standard PRA notice‑and‑comment process, which it did not. Because the proper process was missed, the Department will not put the approved changes into effect. It will continue using the collection materials and reporting requirements that were approved on December 2, 2025 and concluded on December 11, 2025. While the Department prepares a proper revision package, it will maintain the status quo for reporting entities. The notice informs stakeholders that no new reporting changes will occur until the PRA process is completed.
Who Is Affected
Federal agencies and contractors that submit data to the DOL‑Only Performance Accountability system are affected, as they must continue using the December 2025 reporting forms. State and local labor offices that rely on DOL data will also remain bound by the earlier requirements. No private industry outside of entities interacting with the DOL reporting system is directly impacted.
Background
The notice follows a prior publication on January 7, 2026 that incorrectly concluded a revision to OMB Control Number 1205‑0521 without following PRA procedures. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act, any changes to federal collections must undergo notice and public comment. The Department realized the oversight after the revision was posted on RegInfo.gov, prompting this corrective action.
Arguments For
Reversing the premature revision ensures compliance with the PRA, preserving legal integrity of the data collection process. Maintaining the existing reporting framework avoids disruption for agencies that have already prepared reports under the December 2025 requirements.
Arguments Against
The abstract indicates little controversy; no significant opposition is noted beyond the procedural error itself.
Economic Considerations
Because the Department is reverting to the prior collection regime, there is likely minimal immediate cost impact for reporting entities, who avoid the expense of adjusting to new requirements. However, the need to develop and file a new PRA package may incur internal labor costs for the DOL. Any future revision, once properly processed, could entail compliance costs for agencies, but those are speculative at this stage. No formal cost‑benefit analysis is provided in the notice.
Sections beyond the plain-English summary are AI-synthesized analysis based on the sourced Federal Register filing, read, edited where needed, and approved by a human editor before publication. Full methodology: Editorial & Methodology.
← All Records