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MemoMemorandumBiden · D

Presidential Memorandum

Designation of Officials of the Office of Science and Technology Policy To Act as Director

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In simple terms

This memorandum establishes a new order of succession for who may act as Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) during vacancies, replacing the 2017 Obama-era succession order. It designates Associate Directors (by seniority), Chief of Staff, Deputy Directors (by seniority), and General Counsel as potential acting Directors, with restrictions on acting officials and presidential discretion preserved.

Federal Register Open PDF 90 FR 2597

Record & deadlines

  1. Signed

    Signed by the President

  2. FR published

    Published in the Federal Register · 90 FR 2597

    Federal Register PDF

  3. Publication in Federal Register

Key directives

  • Establish order of succession for OSTP Director: Associate Directors by seniority, then Chief of Staff, then Deputy Directors by seniority, then General Counsel
  • Prohibit acting officials from succeeding by virtue of their acting service
  • Require eligibility under Federal Vacancies Reform Act
  • Preserve presidential discretion to depart from this memorandum
  • Revoke January 13, 2017 Presidential Memorandum
  • Publish memorandum in Federal Register

Who is ordered

Prior policyRollback

  • revokePresidential Memorandum of January 13, 2017 (Designation of Officers or Employees of OSTP to Act as Director)

What to expect

Immediate

  • Memorandum takes effect upon signing
  • 2017 succession memorandum revoked

Near term (90d)

  • Publication in Federal Register

Long term

  • New succession framework governs future OSTP vacancies

Risks & tensions

  • Revocation of 2017 Obama-era memorandum without explanation may signal transition-related personnel changes
  • Low institutional visibility of succession orders may create confusion during actual vacancies
  • Presidential discretion clause (Sec. 2(c)) limits predictability of the succession order in practice
Presidential Memorandum: Designation of Officials of the Office of Science and Technology Policy To Act as Director · Executive Orders