ExecutiveOrdersEO
EO 13736Executive OrderObama · D

Executive Order 13736

Providing an Order of Succession Within the Department of Veterans Affairs

This executive order establishes a formal line of succession for who becomes acting Secretary of Veterans Affairs if both the Secretary and Deputy Secretary are unable to serve. It revokes four prior Bush-era orders and memoranda on the same topic.

Federal Register Open PDF 81 FR 54711

Key directives

  • Establish ordered succession list from Under Secretary for Health through Network Director, Veterans Integrated Service Network 19
  • Prohibit acting officials from ascending to Secretary by virtue of acting service
  • Require eligibility under Federal Vacancies Reform Act
  • Preserve presidential discretion to depart from this order
  • Revoke Executive Order 13247, section 4(g) of Executive Order 13261, and two 2002-2003 Presidential Memoranda

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

  • Order takes effect upon signing
  • Four prior succession documents revoked

Near term (90d)

—

Long term

  • Succession plan remains in place until superseded by future order

Risks & tensions

  • Low-profile administrative update; no policy changes to veterans services
  • Presidential discretion clause (Sec. 2(c)) means this order is not absolutely binding on future administrations
  • Specific network directors named (VISNs 8, 7, 19; Southern Area VBA) create geographic concentration risk if those positions are vacant
Executive Order 13736: Providing an Order of Succession Within the Department of Veterans Affairs · Executive Orders