Which organization reported that after initiating a rule, the FAA took an average of 30 months to complete rulemaking?

• A. FAA itself
• B. OMB
• C. Government Accountability Office
• D. NTSB

Answer: (C)

Focusing on oversight of how long federal rulemaking takes helps explain why the Government Accountability Office is the best source. GAO is the independent watchdog that audits and reports on how agencies like the FAA perform regulatory actions. In its reviews, GAO collects data on the time from when a rule is initiated to when it is completed, which includes steps such as drafting, public comment, interagency coordination, and cost-benefit analysis. They report metrics like an average of about 30 months for FAA rulemaking after initiation. This measurement reflects GAO’s role in providing objective, Congress-facing information about agency performance, not an internal agency perspective or a different organization’s focus.

The FAA itself would have internal records, but those are not the same as an independent, nationally recognized assessment. The Office of Management and Budget focuses on regulatory review and budget implications, but it isn’t the typical source for published averages on rulemaking timelines. The NTSB concentrates on accident investigations and safety recommendations, not rulemaking durations.