GW Regulatory Studies Podcast

Comparing the Draft and Final Circular A-4

GW Regulatory Studies Podcast

Show Notes

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) just released its finalized guidance document instructing federal agencies in regulatory impact analysis: the Circular A-4. The final version comes after a draft proposal was unveiled in April of this year and following an extensive comment and review process. What elements changed from draft to final? Policy analysts Sarah Hay, Mark Febrizio and Zoey Xie discuss the notable differences to bring you up to speed. Read more in their commentary.

More from GW Regulatory Studies Podcast

Oct 13, 2026

Mary Sullivan and Howard Beales discuss why it would be premature for the Federal Trade Commission to impose an enforcement standard on "personalized pricing," which they contend is a practice that is not well understood in the marketplace. Read more.

Aug 18, 2026

Policy Analyst Matias Vesperoni discusses the emerging federal framework for stablecoin issuers and how their reserves must be managed. Read the commentary.

Jul 2, 2026

Policy analysts Matias Vesperoni and Finn Dobkin share key takeaways of the new Regulators’ Budget report. The latest edition covers fiscal years 1960 through 2024 and presents data extracted from the Budget of the United States on the outlays and personnel devoted to writing, administering, and enforcing federal regulations at 77 departments and agencies. The Regulators’ Budget offers insights into the growth and changing composition of federal regulation over the past 65 years. Access the complete report at our website.

Jun 17, 2026

Previously considered largely a tool for the incoming Congress and president to overturn a departing president’s midnight regulations, Congress has recently begun using the CRA in unanticipated ways. Professors Susan Dudley and Steven Balla discuss new approaches and implications for the future. Read full commentary.

Apr 22, 2026

Hoover Institution Research Fellow Patrick McLaughlin discusses how the driving force behind safety improvements in the freight rail industry is capital investment, not minimum staffing requirements.

See all episodes →