Removal of Interpretive Bulletins Relating to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974

Document 2025-11613 is a Final Rule published by the Department of Labor in the Federal Register on July 1, 2025, with an effective date of September 2, 2025. This DFR removes from the Code of Federal Regulations prospectively certain interpretive bulletins under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 that the Department of Labor (DOL) believes are obsolete. The obsolete interpretive bulletins were published shortly after ERISA's enactment in 1974 to provide compliance assistance for employee benefit plans, plan sponsors and fiduciaries. Because of subsequent guidance issued by the DOL, and the effect of Reorganization Plan No. 4 of 1978, the DOL believes the interpretive bulletins are no longer needed, and if left on the books, add potential confusion and unnecessary complexity. Removing obsolete regulations eliminates the burden on the public of having to determine whether they need to comply with the regulations. This action is being taken pursuant to Executive Order 14192, titled Unleashing Prosperity Through Deregulation (90 FR 9065, Feb. 6, 2025). This action improves the daily lives of the American people by reducing unnecessary, burdensome, and costly Federal regulations. View the original at https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/07/01/2025-11613/removal-of-interpretive-bulletins-relating-to-the-employee-retirement-income-security-act-of-1974.

No. Document 2025-11613 is not classified as economically significant under Executive Order 12866. Economically significant rules require OIRA review and are estimated to have impacts of $100 million or more per year.