The week in regulations: Taconite and label shapes

President Trump deposed Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro and embarked on a nation-building project. ICE agents killed an American citizen in Minnesota. Agencies issued new regulations ranging from farm plane fuel to marine archaeology.

 On to the data:

• Agencies have issued 35 final regulations so far in 2026.
• With 35 final regulations so far in 2026, agencies are on pace to issue 1,750 final regulations this year.
• For comparison, there were 2,441 final regulations in 2025, 3,248 in 2024, and 3,018 in 2023.
• With 21 proposed regulations so far in 2026, agencies are on pace to issue 929 proposed regulations this year.
• For comparison, there were 1,498 proposed regulations in 2025, 1,769 in 2024, and 2,102 proposed regulations in 2023.
• With 355 notices so far in 2026, agencies are on pace to issue 12,679 notices this year.
• For comparison, there were 19,820 notices in 2025, 25,506 in 2024, and 22,902 in 2023.
• The average Federal Register issue in 2026 contains 225 pages.
• With 1,041 pages so far, the 2026 Federal Register is on pace for 37,179 pages.
• For comparison, the 2025 Federal Register had 61,584 pages, and 2024 had an all-time record 107,261 pages. The 2023 edition had 90,402 pages.
• Rules with $200 million or more of economic effects in at least one year qualify as major under Section 3(f)(1). This replaced the former economically significant tag for $100 million-plus regulations.
• However, the $100 million economically significant tag is now revived under a Trump Executive Order, and the $200 million 3(f)(1) tag is going away. We will likely see rules from both categories this year.
• There are no 3(f)(1) or economically significant regulations so far in 2026.
• This is on pace for zero 3(f)(1) or economically significant regulations in 2026.
• For comparison, there were 17 3(f)(1) or economically significant regulations in 2025, 20 in 2024, and 28 in 2023. Note that these are not apples-to-apples comparisons, since 3(f)(1) and economically significant rules have different thresholds.
• For context, the cost tally for 2025’s 3(f)(1) or economically significant regulations ranged from $16.42 billion to $26.45 billion.  2024’s estimate is net savings of $16.42 billion to 26.45 billion. 2023’s 3(f)(1) and/or economically significant regulations estimated costs range from $62.60 billion to 90.48 billion. The exact numbers depend on discount rates and other assumptions.
• So far this year, seven new regulations meet the broader definition of “significant.” This is on pace for 250 significant regulations in 2026.
• For comparison, there were 155 such regulations in 2025, 339 in 2024, and 290 in 2023.
• So far in 2026, 12 new regulations affect small businesses, on pace for 500. None of them are significant, on pace for zero.
• For comparison, in 2025 there were 597 regulations affecting small businesses, 30 of them significant. In 2024 there were 770 regulations affecting small businesses, 76 of them significant. In 2023 there were 789 regulations affecting small businesses, 79 of them significant.

Highlights from last week’s new final regulations:

• US Customs will only issue refunds electronically.
• The EPA is removing NEPA implementing regulations.
• Reducing the size of the Board of Immigration Appeals and increasing the size of its backlog.
• Marine archaeological resources.
• Robocalls.
• Extension of the State Implementation Plan due date for the regional haze third implementation period.
• Small business subsidies.
• Correction to a shape-based labeling list regulation.
• The Taconite Federal Implementation Plan.
• Harbor porpoise casualties.
• The EPA is withdrawing a Clean Air Act regulation repealed via the Congressional Review Act.
• Delaying the effective date of money laundering regulations.
• CFPB mortgage disclosure size thresholds.
• CFPB Truth in Lending Act size thresholds.
• How to transport fuel for agricultural aircraft.

And from last week’s proposed regulations:

• Perchlorate in drinking water.
• Childcare.
• Analog telecommunications relay service modernization.
• IRS rules for deducting car loan interest payments.
• IRS rules for branded prescription drug fees.
• Gulfstream airworthiness.
• Extended deadline for a coal combustion residuals regulation.
• Parcel dimensions.
• The Surface Transportation Board is looking at eliminating anti-competitive regulations.

For more data, see Ten Thousand Commandments and follow @10KC and @RegoftheDay on Twitter. See also CEI’s Agenda for Congress.