WASHINGTON - The White House released final plans Tuesday to streamline the federal bureaucracy by eliminating 500 regulatory requirements across two dozen federal agencies, an overhaul that could make it easier for travelers to obtain a visa and military contractors to get paid.
Officials said the changes, which came in response to President Obama's order in January for agencies to eliminate red tape, could save up to $10 billion over five years.
The cost savings are "a pretty big deal," Cass Sunstein, administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, said in a conference call with reporters. "But numbers do not tell the whole story. There are a number of initiatives that are finished or well underway or contemplated that will make a difference to people."
The White House report spans 800 pages and includes 100 changes for the Transportation Department alone, including eliminating railroad industry regulations that could save $340 million, officials said.
The Defense Department has finalized plans to speed up payments to 60,000 contractors, and the State Department is reforming visa rules to "promote economic growth and tourism," Sunstein said.
"Every plan emphasizes that it is not a one-shot endeavor," he said. "We have made an effort to create periodic reviews ."
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce applauded the White House for making "technical changes" but said they "will not have a material impact on the real regulatory burdens facing businesses today."
