Executive Office of the President September 2016 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Standards for Maintaining, Collecting, and Presenting Federal Data on Race and Ethnicity were last revised in 1997 (62 FR 58782, Oct. 30, 1997; see https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/ fedreg_1997standards). Since these revisions were implemented, much has been learned about how these standards have improved the quality of Federal information collected and presented on race and ethnicity. At the same time, some areas may benefit from further refinement. Accordingly, OMB currently is undertaking a review of particular components of the 1997 standard: The use of separate questions measuring race and ethnicity and question phrasing; the classification of a Middle Eastern and North African group and reporting category; the description of the intended use of minimum reporting categories; and terminology used for race and ethnicity classifications. OMB's current review of the standard is limited to these areas. Specific questions appear under the section, ``Issues for Comment.''

Consistent with Executive Order 13526, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is providing greater clarity about the procedures under which it may provide historical researchers and certain former Government personnel with access to classified CIA information. This rule is being issued as a final rule without prior notice of proposed rulemaking as allowed by the Administrative Procedure Act for rules of agency procedure and interpretation.