Providing an Order of Succession Within the Department of Veterans Affairs

This executive order establishes a formal line of succession for the Department of Veterans Affairs, specifying which officials would act as Secretary if both the Secretary and Deputy Secretary are unable to serve. It lists eight positions in priority order, from the Under Secretary for Health down to the Chairman of the Board of Veterans' Appeals, with exceptions for acting officials and presidential discretion.

Federal Register Open PDF 66 FR 66271

Key directives

Establish order of succession for Secretary of Veterans Affairs when Secretary and Deputy Secretary are unavailable
List eight specific positions in succession priority
Exclude acting officials from serving as Secretary under this order
Preserve presidential discretion to depart from this order under 5 U.S.C. Subchapter III

Timeline

Immediate

EO takes effect upon signing; succession order is now active

Near term (90d)

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Long term

Remains in force until revoked or superseded; governs continuity of VA leadership during emergencies or vacancies

Risks & tensions

EO 13247 revoked and replaced EO 13239 (October 2001), suggesting rapid revision of VA succession planning early in Bush administration
Section 2(e) ordering Assistant Secretaries by oath date creates potential ambiguity if oath dates are disputed
Section 2(f) conditionally includes CIO only if Senate-confirmed, creating uncertainty if position structure changes
Presidential discretion in section 3(b) may undermine predictability of succession in practice