ExecutiveOrdersEO
EO 13261Executive OrderG.W. Bush · R

Executive Order 13261

Providing An Order of Succession in the Environmental Protection Agency and Amending Certain Orders on Succession

Energy & EnvironmentEnergy & EnvironmentFederal WorkforceFederal Workforce

In simple terms

This executive order establishes the line of succession for the EPA Administrator position, listing 11 senior EPA officials who would assume the role if both the Administrator and Deputy Administrator are unable to serve. It also amends nine prior executive orders from December 2001 to add a uniform restriction preventing acting officials in the succession line from becoming acting Secretary of their respective departments.

Federal Register Open PDF 67 FR 13243

Record & deadlines

  1. Signed

    Signed by the President

  2. FR published

    Published in the Federal Register · 67 FR 13243

    Federal Register PDF

Key directives

  • Establish 11-person EPA succession order (Section 2)
  • Prohibit acting officials from assuming Administrator role via succession (Section 3a)
  • Preserve presidential discretion under Federal Vacancies Reform Act (Section 3b)
  • Amend Section 3(a) or 3(b) of nine prior succession EOs to add acting-official restriction

Prior policy

  • amendExecutive Order 13241 of December 18, 2001 (Department of Agriculture succession)
  • amendExecutive Order 13242 of December 18, 2001 (Department of Commerce succession)
  • amendExecutive Order 13243 of December 18, 2001 (Department of Housing and Urban Development succession)
  • amendExecutive Order 13244 of December 18, 2001 (Department of the Interior succession)
  • amendExecutive Order 13245 of December 18, 2001 (Department of Labor succession)
  • amendExecutive Order 13246 of December 18, 2001 (Department of the Treasury succession)
  • amendExecutive Order 13247 of December 18, 2001 (Department of Veterans Affairs succession)
  • amendExecutive Order 13250 of December 28, 2001 (Department of Health and Human Services succession)
  • amendExecutive Order 13251 of December 28, 2001 (Department of State succession)

Related orders

What to expect

Immediate

  • EPA succession order takes effect upon signing
  • Amendments to nine prior executive orders take effect

Near term (90d)

—

Long term

  • Continuity of EPA leadership in case of vacancies
  • Standardized acting-official restriction across multiple departments

Risks & tensions

  • Minimal tension: procedural housekeeping that aligns multiple EOs with consistent language
  • No explicit emergency triggered this; appears to be administrative standardization following earlier December 2001 orders
Executive Order 13261: Providing An Order of Succession in the Environmental Protection Agency and Amending Certain Orders on Succession · Executive Orders