EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20503
March 4, 2021
M-21-18
MEMORANDUM FOR HEADS OF EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES
FROM: Robert Fairweather
Acting Director
SUBJECT: Legislative Coordination and Clearance
This memorandum and the attachment provide an overview of the Executive branch's formal legislative coordination and clearance process. Please share this with policy officials in your agency.
Adherence to the long-standing requirements of the clearance process serves the needs of the President by ensuring that agency legislative proposals and recommendations, as well as testimony, are consistent with his policies and programs. We request that agency legislative proposals, letters, and testimony discussing or involving legislation be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) as far in advance of a needed clearance as feasible.
OMB runs a clearance process on these items, which requires sufficient time to review and coordinate with all relevant agencies, and offices in the Executive Office of the President (EOP).
OMB Circular No. A-19 describes the requirements and procedures for legislative coordination and clearance. The attachment summarizes the major elements and the essential purposes of the clearance process.
We will be working with you to ensure the timely transmittal to Congress of legislative proposals necessary to support the President's legislative agenda and the Fiscal Year 2022 Budget. As decisions are made on these matters, we will be in contact about details related to the drafting, review, and clearance of these proposals.
In addition, OMB also manages the formulation of the President's Budget request to Congress. OMB Circular No. A-11, which provides comprehensive guidance on budget formulation and execution, describes the OMB review and approval process for materials supporting the President's Budget, including communications with Congress on supplemental requests.
