ExecutiveOrdersEO
EO 13515Executive OrderObama · D

Executive Order 13515

Increasing Participation of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in Federal Programs

This executive order establishes a President's Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) housed in the Department of Education and a White House Initiative on AAPIs co-chaired by the Secretaries of Commerce and Education. The order directs federal agencies to develop plans to improve AAPI access to federal programs, increase AAPI federal workforce participation, and advance data collection and research on AAPI subpopulations.

Federal Register Open PDF 74 FR 53635

Impact dates

  1. Co-Chairs establish deadline for agency plan submissions

  2. Commission termination unless renewed by President

  3. Agencies to achieve measurable progress on 2-year high-priority action items

  4. Annual performance assessment on previous year's goals (first assessment due after first year)

Key directives

  • Establish President's Advisory Commission on AAPIs with up to 20 members in Department of Education
  • Establish White House Initiative on AAPIs co-chaired by Secretaries of Commerce and Education
  • Designate Executive Director for Commission (Secretary of Education, consulting with Secretary of Commerce)
  • Each designated agency must prepare agency plan for improving AAPI participation in federal programs
  • Agency plans must address: identifying underserved programs; AAPI federal workforce recruitment and advancement; 2-year high-priority measurable action items; public/private/community involvement; evidence-based research and data collection; public input solicitation including language barriers
  • Agencies must provide measurable objectives and annual performance assessments
  • Co-Chairs to review agency plans and develop Federal interagency plan for President
  • Commission terminates 2 years from order date unless renewed

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

  • Establishment of President's Advisory Commission on AAPIs in Department of Education
  • Establishment of White House Initiative on AAPIs as interagency working group
  • Supersession of Executive Orders 13125 (1999) and 13339 (2004)

Near term (90d)

  • Co-Chairs to establish deadline for agency plan submissions
  • Agencies to begin developing measurable objectives for AAPI participation in federal programs

Long term

  • Commission terminates October 14, 2011 unless renewed by President
  • Agencies to implement 2-year high-priority action items for AAPI health, environment, opportunity, and well-being
  • Annual performance assessments on previous year's goals
  • Development of Federal interagency plan by Co-Chairs for submission to President

Risks & tensions

  • Funding contingent on existing appropriations and 'extent permitted by law' may limit implementation
  • No enforcement mechanism for agency non-compliance with plan requirements
  • Vague timeline: Co-Chairs set submission deadline for agency plans rather than fixed date
  • Potential tension between pan-ethnic AAPI framing and distinct needs of highly diverse subpopulations explicitly noted (Hmong, Cambodian, Malaysian, Pacific Islanders)
  • Language barriers noted as factor but no specific implementation mandate
  • Commission sunset clause (2 years) creates institutional uncertainty unless renewed
Executive Order 13515: Increasing Participation of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in Federal Programs · Executive Orders