Committee on Ocean Policy

This executive order establishes the Committee on Ocean Policy within the Council on Environmental Quality to coordinate federal agency activities on ocean-related matters, advance environmental/economic/security interests, and facilitate consultation with state, tribal, local, and international stakeholders. The Committee comprises cabinet secretaries, agency heads, and presidential assistants but functions solely in an advisory capacity without regulatory authority.

Federal Register Open PDF 69 FR 76591

Key directives

Establish Committee on Ocean Policy as part of Council on Environmental Quality
Chairman of CEQ shall chair Committee and convene meetings regularly
Committee to provide advice to President and agency heads on ocean policy
Committee to obtain individual (non-consensus) advice from state/local/tribal officials and private entities
Committee to review and advise on agency-proposed ocean policies upon request
Committee to facilitate development of common principles, voluntary regional approaches, science-based policy, and information exchange
Committee to ensure coordinated development of ocean component of Global Earth Observation System of Systems
Agencies shall provide requested information, support, and assistance to Committee
CEQ, NSC, HSC, and EPA to ensure coordination with other ocean/maritime policy structures

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

Committee on Ocean Policy established upon signing
Council on Environmental Quality designated to provide funding and administrative support

Near term (90d)

Initial committee convening expected
Subcommittee establishment for particular subject matters

Long term

Ongoing coordination of ocean policy across federal agencies
Development of common principles and goals for governmental ocean activities
Implementation of ocean component of Global Earth Observation System of Systems

Risks & tensions

Advisory-only structure with no enforcement mechanism may limit effectiveness
Vague 'as appropriate' qualifiers throughout reduce binding commitment
Large membership (20+ principals) may create coordination challenges; subcommittees partially address this
Individual-only consultation requirement (no collective judgment) with non-federal stakeholders may fragment input
Funding contingent on 'availability of appropriations' creates uncertainty
Explicit disclaimer that order creates no enforceable rights limits accountability