EO 13331Executive OrderG.W. Bush · R

Executive Order 13331

National and Community Service Programs

In simple terms

This executive order directs the Corporation for National and Community Service to review and reform its policies to promote volunteering, state/local flexibility, faith-based organization involvement, and improved fiscal accountability. It mandates management reforms and requires a report within 180 days on proposed implementation actions.

Record & deadlines

  1. Signed

    Signed by the President

  2. FR published

    Published in the Federal Register · 69 FR 9911

  3. CEO report to President on proposed actions to accomplish EO objectives

Key directives

  • CEO shall review and evaluate existing policies for consistency with fundamental principles in Section 2
  • CEO shall amend existing policies to ensure consistency with Section 2 principles
  • CEO shall implement new policies where appropriate to further Section 2 principles
  • Corporation shall implement internal management reforms to strengthen oversight
  • Budgetary and grant-making processes must ensure financial commitments remain within available resources
  • Enhanced accounting and management systems must ensure fiscal compliance and provide timely information on AmeriCorps enrollment and program funding
  • CEO and CFO must assure accuracy of financial statements in Management Representation Letter
  • Employee performance must be tied to fiscal responsibility, management goals, and professional conduct
  • CEO shall report to President within 180 days through Assistant to the President and Director of USA Freedom Corps Office

Who is ordered

What to expect

Immediate

  • CEO must begin review of existing policies in coordination with USA Freedom Corps Council

Near term (90d)

  • Policy review and evaluation ongoing
  • Development of implementation steps for management reforms

Long term

  • 180-day report to President due
  • Institutionalized changes to budgetary and grant-making processes
  • Enhanced accounting and management systems implementation
  • Ongoing policy amendments and new policy implementation

Risks & tensions

  • Faith-based organization expansion (Sec. 2(d), 3(c)(iii)) may raise church-state separation concerns, though text frames this neutrally as 'to the extent permitted by law'
  • Tension between federal accountability requirements and state/local flexibility (Sec. 2(b), 3(c)(v))—text acknowledges this by referencing federalism principles but provides no resolution mechanism
  • School-based tutor qualification requirements (Sec. 3(c)(vi)) impose new constraints without specifying enforcement timeline or consequences
  • Anti-displacement provision (Sec. 3(c)(viii)) is vague on what practices constitute displacement and how elimination will be measured
  • No hard deadlines for management reforms beyond the 180-day report; implementation timeline is discretionary
Executive Order 13331: National and Community Service Programs · Executive Orders