The new administration must prioritize careful appointments within the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA). OIRA is one of the most powerful offices in the federal government, yet few but the lobbyists even know of its existence.
Through a series of executive orders (12866 and 13563), various presidents authorized OIRA and its staff of economists to review most proposed and final agency regulations, making a tiny White House office the de facto gatekeeper for much of the federal regulatory system.
Impediments to effective regulation via OIRA:
- The cost/benefit and statistical analysis of a regulatory rule must accurately weigh the financial impact to human health in the analysis, otherwise the true impact on the economy and productivity of a regulatory decision is substantially understated.
- OIRA can expedite or permanently delay regulatory decisions.
- Lobbyists and corporations know that OIRA is the critical spot of influence.
- There is very little transparency into this black box of an office under the executive branch, leaving it ripe for corruption.
- OIRA has the power to veto the scientific opinions and decisions of the agencies.
The appointment to lead this office must be someone who appreciates the cumulative impact of toxic chemicals, processed food, telecom radiation, and drugs on the population and is capable of directing the statistical and scientific team to accurately weigh these matters in their econometric models. The modeling performed on regulatory actions surrounding chemicals, telecom, and drugs will need to be informed by toxicologists who specialize in understanding toxic burdens on the body.