ExecutiveOrdersEO
EO 13245Executive OrderG.W. Bush · R

Executive Order 13245

Providing an Order of Succession Within the Department of Labor

This executive order establishes a formal line of succession for the Secretary of Labor, specifying which officials would assume the role if both the Secretary and Deputy Secretary are unable to serve. It revokes the previous succession order from 1954 and preserves presidential discretion to override the designated order.

Federal Register Open PDF 66 FR 66268

Key directives

  • Establish 12-person order of succession for Secretary of Labor starting with Solicitor of Labor
  • Disqualify acting officials from serving as Secretary under this order
  • Preserve presidential discretion to depart from designated succession per 5 U.S.C. Chapter 33, Subchapter III
  • Revoke Executive Order 10513 of January 19, 1954

Timeline

Immediate

  • EO takes effect upon signing
  • Executive Order 10513 of 1954 revoked

Near term (90d)

—

Long term

  • Standing succession protocol remains in place until modified or revoked by future order

Risks & tensions

  • Low institutional tension: routine administrative update replacing 47-year-old order
  • Vague: 'otherwise unable to perform' leaves undefined scope of triggering conditions
  • Presidential discretion in Section 3(b) creates tension with statutory succession framework
Executive Order 13245: Providing an Order of Succession Within the Department of Labor · Executive Orders