President Obama has issued an executive order that broadens an earlier directive aimed at making federal regulations less burdensome. The July 11 executive order would apply to independent agencies, such as the National Labor Relations Board and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Building on a directive issued in January for Cabinet departments, the order asks agencies to develop plans in 120 days to streamline redundant or overly burdensome rules. Cass Sunstein, administrator of the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, says the January order could save $1 billion a year and eliminate millions of hours of paperwork.