Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Submits National Survey of Syringe Services Programs for Office of Management and Budget Review

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention formally submitted an information collection request titled the National Survey of Syringe Services Programs to the Office of Management and Budget for review and approval. Published in the Federal Register on November 9, 2026, the notice marks a procedural step required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The action invites public comments on the proposed data collection project during a thirty-day window. This development follows a prior notice issued on June 2, 2026, which yielded twenty-six public comments.

Background and Purpose

The primary objective of the National Survey of Syringe Services Programs is to enable the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention alongside local and state partners to monitor and evaluate syringe services programs across the United States. Operational characteristics, funding resources, community relations, and primary operational challenges are assessed through the initiative. Prior survey iterations conducted between 2022 and 2025 established a baseline for these metrics. The upcoming 2026 survey includes revisions to account for a growing number of programs nationwide, updated infectious disease protocols, enhanced substance use prevention, and expanded overdose prevention measures.

Methodology and Scope

The survey scope encompasses all syringe services programs listed in the publicly available directory maintained by the North American Syringe Exchange Network. Additional participants include programs that choose not to be publicly listed but agree to participate for research purposes, members of the network buyers club, prior survey respondents, and programs identified through state health department websites and regional networks. Approximately one thousand programs will receive an invitation to participate in the thirty-five minute survey. Eligible programs may complete the assessment through secure web-based applications such as Research Electronic Data Capture or via scheduled telephone and videoconferencing interviews. The agency estimates an annualized burden of 583 hours based on potential full participation.

Public Comment and Regulatory Review

The Office of Management and Budget oversees federal information collections to evaluate necessity and minimize respondent burden. Interested parties may submit comments regarding the practical utility of the collection, the accuracy of the burden estimates, and methods to enhance information quality. Comments must be submitted within thirty days of the Federal Register publication through designated federal electronic portals or direct written correspondence to the Office of Management and Budget desk officer.

Conclusion and Next Steps

The ongoing review process highlights federal administrative mechanisms used to oversee public health data collection. Following the conclusion of the thirty-day public comment period, the Office of Management and Budget will determine whether to approve the information collection request. The outcome will dictate the exact rollout of the 2026 survey by the National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, shaping future evaluations of harm reduction strategies nationwide.