ExecutiveOrdersEO
EO 13629Executive OrderObama · D

Executive Order 13629

Establishing the White House Homeland Security Partnership Council

This executive order creates the White House Homeland Security Partnership Council and its Steering Committee to institutionalize collaboration between federal field offices and local partners—including state/local/tribal governments, private sector, and nonprofits—to address homeland security challenges ranging from disaster response to terrorism prevention. The Council advises on priorities, promotes best practices, and convenes annually, while the Steering Committee sets its scope, selects members, and reports to the President yearly.

Federal Register Open PDF 77 FR 66353

Impact dates

  1. Subsequent annual reports to President

  2. Steering Committee annual report to President through Chair (first report)

Key directives

  • Establish White House Homeland Security Partnership Council chaired by Assistant to President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism
  • Establish Steering Committee with Deputy agency head representatives from 19 specified agencies plus invited others
  • Steering Committee to determine Council's scope and operating protocols in consultation with OMB
  • Steering Committee to establish nomination process and selection criteria for Council members
  • Council to convene annual meeting to exchange findings, progress, and best practices
  • Steering Committee to provide report to President through Chair within 1 year of Council member selection, and annually thereafter

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

  • Council and Steering Committee formally established
  • Chair position identified (Assistant to President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism)
  • Steering Committee membership specified

Near term (90d)

  • Steering Committee must establish nomination process and selection criteria for Council members
  • Agency heads may begin selecting nominees for Council

Long term

  • Within 1 year of Council member selection: first annual report to President due, then annually thereafter
  • Council to convene annual meetings ongoing
  • Institutionalization of local partnership structures for homeland security priorities

Risks & tensions

  • No dedicated funding appropriated; implementation 'subject to availability of appropriations' may limit effectiveness
  • 'Consensus' requirement for Steering Committee selecting Council members could create delays or deadlock
  • Vague 'as appropriate' qualifiers on outreach and subgroup creation reduce binding accountability
  • Privacy and civil liberties protections referenced but not specified; scope of information sharing between federal and local partners raises potential concerns
  • Council composed of field office personnel rather than headquarters staff may improve local knowledge but could reduce interagency coordination authority
Executive Order 13629: Establishing the White House Homeland Security Partnership Council · Executive Orders