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5mo ago

Federal Paperwork Burden Reaches 12.3 Billion Hours, Costing Billions Annually

New data highlights the growing administrative load under federal regulations, equating to over 17,000 human lifetimes in annual time spent on compliance.

Overview

  • The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) reports that federal paperwork now consumes 12.3 billion hours annually, up from 10.5 billion hours in 2023.
  • This administrative burden equates to over 17,000 human lifetimes and costs an estimated $187–$420 billion annually, depending on wage assumptions.
  • Tax-related filings from the Department of the Treasury account for the majority of the paperwork, contributing over 6.6 billion hours in fiscal year 2023.
  • The Biden administration's focus has shifted toward improving access to government benefits rather than reducing overall paperwork, according to critics.
  • President-elect Donald Trump has pledged to significantly cut regulations and paperwork, appointing Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to lead a new Department of Government Efficiency.