OMB Declines Generic CDC Traveler Screening ICR Approval

 Yesterday the OMB’s Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) announced that it had disapproved an information collection request (ICR) from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) on “[NCZEID] Traveler Risk Assessment and Management Activities During Disease Outbreaks”. The 60-day ICR notice was published on June 16^th, 2025. The 30-day ICR notice was published on October 2^nd, 2025.

According to the discussion in the 60-day ICR notice:

“Disease outbreaks do not occur at regular intervals, which makes it difficult to estimate how often information collection will be necessary. The purpose of this Generic ICR is to aid in CDC's responsibility to ensure the successful implementation of traveler management in an efficient and timely manner. DGMH intends use this Generic ICR in the event of a disease outbreak that would necessitate the public health assessment and/or monitoring of travelers arriving in the U.S. Although it is possible to anticipate some broad categories of information that would need to be collected, (e.g., potential exposures, symptoms, contact information, etc.), each response is unique and requires flexibility in terms of the specific information collection tool in each instance. Data collection instruments and methods must be rapidly created and implemented to direct appropriate public health action. Often specific questions will change, or new questions will evolve with each disease outbreak.”

In disapproving the proposed generic ICR, OIRA explained:

“Generics are generally voluntary, low-burden (based on a consideration of total burden, total respondents, or burden per respondent), and uncontroversial, thus the collections proposed do not seem appropriate for a generic clearance. CDC is welcome to continue to seek emergency clearance as needed during disease outbreaks.”

I suspect that the disapproval of this ICR is more a response to the problems associated with the management of the COVID epidemic than purely a purely ICR program management decision. While the COVID response should inform a more effective response to the next pandemic, this programmatic response from OIRA rejects that intent.