What should a user do if FederalRegister.gov or eCFR.gov blocks access with a CAPTCHA?
If FederalRegister.gov or eCFR.gov blocks access with a CAPTCHA, the available source gives a straightforward instruction for human users.
What to do
Complete the CAPTCHA shown on the access page.
The context says the request was flagged as potentially automated. It also says human users may sometimes be asked to complete the CAPTCHA again.
Why the block appears
The pages say programmatic access to FederalRegister.gov and eCFR.gov is limited because of aggressive automated scraping.
That means the CAPTCHA is presented as an access check, not as a statement about the user personally.
What developers should do instead
If the access is programmatic, the pages direct users to API documentation rather than scraping. For current access instructions, use the official Federal Register or eCFR developer API guidance linked from the access pages.
How should developers access FederalRegister.gov or eCFR.gov data instead of scraping?
For developers, the available context points away from scraping and toward official APIs.
Use the developer APIs
The access pages direct programmatic users to:
- Federal Register API documentation
- eCFR API documentation
The same pages say programmatic access to FederalRegister.gov and eCFR.gov is limited because of aggressive automated scraping.
Why scraping may trigger a block
The context says requests may be flagged as potentially automated. When that happens, human users are asked to complete a CAPTCHA, and they may sometimes be asked to complete it again.
For automated or application-based access, the confirmed route is to use the API documentation rather than trying to bypass the access page.
What to verify
API instructions can change, so developers should check the current documentation linked by FederalRegister.gov or eCFR.gov before building or changing an integration.
Sources / Learn more
Related reading
- How can a reader verify the actual Federal Register notice when the page shows an access-limitation message?; What should a flagged human user do if FederalRegister.gov or eCFR.gov blocks access with a CAPTCHA notice?
- How can I access the Federal Register page if it says my request may be automated?; What should I do if I need wider IP-range access to FederalRegister.gov or eCFR.gov?
- How can programmatic users access the Federal Register or eCFR material for this fisheries notice?; What should a human reader do if the Federal Register page blocks access with a CAPTCHA message?
- What should a reader do if the supplied Federal Register page does not show the qualified opportunity zone reporting details?; How can programmatic users access FederalRegister.gov or eCFR.gov material when automated-looking access is limited?
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