Which law allows the OMB to define policies for U.S. government agencies?

The Paperwork Reduction Act is the law that empowers the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to define policies for U.S. government agencies concerning the management and reduction of paperwork and other reporting requirements. This act was established to improve the efficiency of federal information management and to minimize the burden of paperwork on individuals, businesses, and governmental entities.

The OMB, under this act, works to ensure that agencies comply with guidelines intended to streamline processes and reduce unnecessary burdens on the public. This includes overseeing the process by which agencies collect, maintain, and manage information, making it crucial for improving government efficiency and accountability.

Each of the other laws mentioned has a specific focus, such as homeland security, computer security, or the management of federal information systems, but none provide the same comprehensive framework for managing and reducing paperwork as the Paperwork Reduction Act does. Thus, it is this act that uniquely enables the OMB to dictate policies covering various aspects of governmental paperwork and data collection practices.