Overview
Title
Federal Management Regulation; Updating the Federal Management Regulation (FMR) With Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility Language; Planned Rescission
Agencies
ELI5 AI
The General Services Administration (GSA) is making changes to some rules to use more traditional language and take away some words about diversity, so that these rules match instructions from new leaders in the government.
Summary AI
The General Services Administration (GSA) plans to issue a final rule that will partly undo updates made to the Federal Management Regulation concerning diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. This move follows two Executive Orders from January 2025, which direct federal agencies to revert changes made by the previous administration. The update will involve changing non-gendered language to gendered language and removing certain diversity-related language. The planned rescission will affect specific parts of the regulation as detailed by the GSA.
Abstract
GSA will be issuing a final rule partly rescinding the Federal Management Regulation (FMR) Case 2024-01, "Updating the Federal Management Regulation (FMR) with Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility Language," published on August 22, 2024.
Keywords AI
Sources
AnalysisAI
The recently released document from the General Services Administration (GSA) announces a significant policy revision regarding the Federal Management Regulation (FMR). The planned action involves partially rescinding updates made to include diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility language within the FMR. This decision follows two Executive Orders issued in January 2025, which mandate the retraction of certain diversity-focused initiatives and the reinstatement of gender-specific pronouns.
General Summary
The GSA's notification primarily relates to the partial undoing of modifications introduced to the FMR under a previous administration. These changes included the adoption of non-gendered language and a broader emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion. The announced revisions stipulate a return to gendered language and the removal of specific diversity-related terms across parts of the regulation.
Significant Issues or Concerns
There are several issues within the document that could lead to potential misunderstandings or operational challenges. Firstly, the document lacks detail on which specific sections of the FMR will remain unchanged, which might create ambiguity about the precise set of regulations that will govern after these changes take effect. Furthermore, there is minimal information on how the rescission will be operationalized or the expected impacts, leaving the implications of this policy shift open to interpretation.
The rationale given for reinstating gendered pronouns and eliminating diversity-related language isn't extensively explained. This could provoke concerns about inclusivity and the transparency of reasoning behind these decisions. The document heavily references the Executive Orders as justifications for these changes without discussing their impacts or necessity thoroughly. Additionally, there seems to be an absence of a public comment period, which might limit public engagement and awareness.
Public Impact
Broadly, this regulatory update might raise concerns regarding consistency and stability within government policies due to its quick alignment with new executive directions. The adjustments reversing previous efforts to enhance inclusivity and diversity might be perceived as a retreat from progressive policies intended to foster equitable workplaces.
Impact on Stakeholders
Specific stakeholder groups may feel these changes more acutely. For instance, federal employees and contractors who focus on advocacy and implementation of diversity and inclusivity measures within government operations might find these rollbacks as counter to their objectives and the support systems previously built. On the other hand, those advocating for more traditional or conservative administrative language frameworks might view these changes positively.
Overall, the document suggests a significant yet potentially controversial shift in federal policy focus, aligning with the directives of recent executive orders but lacking a comprehensive explanation and methodology for public and stakeholder consideration.
Issues
• The document does not specify which specific sections of the Federal Management Regulation (FMR) will remain in effect after the partial rescission, which could lead to ambiguity about the current regulations.
• The summary of the document is brief and lacks specific details on how the rescission will be implemented and its potential impacts.
• The rationale for replacing non-gendered pronouns with gendered pronouns is not fully explained, which could lead to confusion or concerns about inclusivity.
• The document references Executive Orders to justify the rescission, but does not provide an evaluation or discussion of the impacts of these changes or the need for such actions.
• The actions being notified are based on recent executive orders, indicating a rapid policy change, which might raise concerns about stability and consistency in regulations.
• There is no mention of any public comment period or further review, limiting transparency and stakeholder engagement in the process.