Fair Housing: OMB Review of HUD Requests To Collect Information From the Public

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) actions in connection with the Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) proposals to collect certain types of data pertaining to its housing programs. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act, OMB has responsibility for reviewing agencies' requests to collect data from the public. GAO focused on: (1) the justification for five HUD proposals to collect data; (2) the basis upon which OMB disapproved or modified the proposals; (3) HUD appeals of the OMB actions; and (4) whether the OMB actions were consistent with the act and its implementing regulations.