ExecutiveOrdersEO
EO 13241Executive OrderG.W. Bush · R

Executive Order 13241

Providing an Order of Succession Within the Department of Agriculture

This executive order establishes a formal line of succession for who becomes acting Secretary of Agriculture when both the Secretary and Deputy Secretary are unable to serve. It revokes the previous succession order from 1977 and lists ten Department of Agriculture officials in priority order.

Federal Register Open PDF 66 FR 66258

Key directives

  • Establish 10-person order of succession for Secretary of Agriculture
  • Prohibit acting officials from serving in listed roles from ascending to acting Secretary
  • Preserve presidential discretion to depart from this order under 5 U.S.C. Chapter 33 Subchapter III
  • Revoke Executive Order 11957 of January 13, 1977

Timeline

Immediate

  • Revocation of Executive Order 11957 (1977 succession plan)
  • New succession order takes effect upon signing

Near term (90d)

—

Long term

  • Permanent standing succession protocol for USDA secretary vacancy scenarios

Risks & tensions

  • Minimal tension: standard administrative housekeeping, though presidential discretion clause (Sec. 3(b)) creates intentional flexibility that could override the fixed order
  • No implementation risks apparent—purely procedural
Executive Order 13241: Providing an Order of Succession Within the Department of Agriculture · Executive Orders