ExecutiveOrdersEO
EO 13484Executive OrderG.W. Bush · R

Executive Order 13484

Amending the Order of Succession Within the Department of Agriculture

This executive order updates the line of succession for the Secretary of Agriculture, expanding it from 10 to 14 positions and adding specific Farm Service Agency officials. It also adds a requirement that any acting Secretary must be eligible under the Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998.

Federal Register Open PDF 74 FR 2285

Impact dates

  1. EO takes effect

Key directives

  • Amend EO 13241 Section 2 to establish new 14-position succession order
  • Add Section 3(c) requiring Federal Vacancies Reform Act eligibility for acting Secretaries
  • Update Section 3(a) cross-reference from 2(a)-(j) to 2(a)-(n)

Timeline

Immediate

  • New succession order takes effect upon signing
  • Previous EO 13241 succession list superseded

Near term (90d)

—

Long term

  • Revised succession framework remains in place until further amended

Risks & tensions

  • Minimal tension; routine administrative update
  • New eligibility constraint in 3(c) may narrow pool of potential acting Secretaries if interpreted strictly
  • Inclusion of geographically specific FSA directors (Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska) is unusual and may reflect political or operational considerations
Executive Order 13484: Amending the Order of Succession Within the Department of Agriculture · Executive Orders