ExecutiveOrdersEO
EO 13461Executive OrderG.W. Bush · R

Executive Order 13461

Providing an Order of Succession Within the Department of Health and Human Services

This executive order establishes the line of succession for the Secretary of Health and Human Services, specifying which officials would assume the role if the Secretary dies, resigns, or becomes unable to serve. It revokes a prior 2001 executive order and 2002 memorandum on the same subject.

Federal Register Open PDF 73 FR 9437

Impact dates

  1. Revoke EO 13250 and March 19, 2002 memorandum

  2. EO 13250 and March 19, 2002 memorandum revoked

Key directives

  • Establish order of succession for HHS Secretary through 11 designated positions
  • Exclude acting officials from succession by virtue of acting status
  • Preserve presidential discretion to depart from order under FVRA
  • Revoke EO 13250 and March 19, 2002 memorandum

Timeline

Immediate

  • EO 13250 and March 19, 2002 memorandum revoked
  • New succession order takes effect

Near term (90d)

—

Long term

  • Standing succession protocol remains in place until superseded

Risks & tensions

  • Low visibility but critical for continuity of government during crises; no explicit emergency scenarios addressed beyond standard incapacity
  • Presidential discretion in section 3(b) creates tension with fixed succession order but is consistent with FVRA framework
Executive Order 13461: Providing an Order of Succession Within the Department of Health and Human Services · Executive Orders