ExecutiveOrdersEO
EO 13747Executive OrderObama · D

Executive Order 13747

Advancing the Global Health Security Agenda To Achieve a World Safe and Secure From Infectious Disease Threats

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In simple terms

This executive order institutionalizes U.S. participation in the Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA), a multinational initiative to strengthen countries' abilities to prevent, detect, and respond to infectious disease threats. It creates a new interagency council chaired by National Security Council staff, assigns specific roles to 13 agencies, and mandates reporting and external evaluation requirements through 2019.

Federal Register Open PDF 81 FR 78701

Record & deadlines

  1. Signed

    Signed by the President

  2. FR published

    Published in the Federal Register · 81 FR 78701

    Federal Register PDF

  3. External assessment of U.S. domestic IHR/GHSA implementation (recurring no less than every 4 years)

  4. Council submits overall 5-year GHSA review to President

  5. Council provides initial policy-level guidance on GHSA implementation

Key directives

  • NSC staff convenes GHSA Interagency Review Council with 13+ agency representatives at Assistant Secretary level or higher
  • Council meets not less than four times per year
  • Council provides initial policy guidance within 30 days of order
  • Council develops annual progress report with recommendations for President, made publicly available to extent possible
  • Council conducts overall 5-year review for submission to President by September 2019
  • Agency heads make GHSA high priority in strategic planning and budget processes
  • Secretary of State leads diplomatic outreach to G7, G20, African Union, EU, ASEAN, ECOWAS, OIC, and other bodies
  • Secretary of HHS facilitates external assessment of U.S. domestic IHR/GHSA implementation no less than every 4 years and publishes results
  • Attorney General/FBI serves as lead for GHSA targets linking public health and law enforcement
  • Secretary of Homeland Security leads border/port of entry health threat activities with HHS, State, and Agriculture

Who is ordered

What to expect

Immediate

  • GHSA Interagency Review Council convenes
  • agencies designate senior officials and Council representatives
  • agencies instructed to prioritize GHSA in strategic planning and budget processes

Near term (90d)

  • Council provides initial policy guidance (30 days)
  • first annual cycle of Council meetings begins (minimum 4/year)

Long term

  • annual progress reports to President with public release
  • 5-year comprehensive review due September 2019
  • ongoing external assessments of U.S. domestic capabilities every 4 years

Risks & tensions

  • Council operates 'by consensus,' which may slow decision-making or produce lowest-common-denominator guidance
  • Explicit carve-out preserves Secretary of State's foreign affairs authority, creating potential jurisdictional friction with NSC-led Council
  • Implementation 'subject to availability of appropriations' may limit actual programmatic activity regardless of planning mandates
  • September 2019 review deadline fell within subsequent administration, creating uncertainty about follow-through
  • No enforcement mechanism for agency compliance with prioritization directives
Executive Order 13747: Advancing the Global Health Security Agenda To Achieve a World Safe and Secure From Infectious Disease Threats · Executive Orders