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EO 13830Executive OrderTrump 45 · R

Executive Order 13830

Delegation of Authority To Approve Certain Military Decorations

This executive order delegates presidential authority to award certain high-level military decorations to the Secretaries of military departments and the Secretary of Homeland Security. It updates and consolidates rules for decorations including the Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star, Legion of Merit, and Distinguished Flying Cross, superseding executive orders from 1927 and 1942.

Federal Register Open PDF 83 FR 18191

Impact dates

  1. Time limitations for post-September 11, 2001 Distinguished Flying Cross awards to be established by service secretaries or DHS Secretary in regulations

  2. 3-year award cutoff for Distinguished Flying Cross acts between July 2, 1926 and September 10, 2001 (unless recommendation within 2 years)

  3. Absolute cutoff for Distinguished Flying Cross awards for acts between December 7, 1941 and September 2, 1945 (unless recommendation made by May 2, 1951)

  4. Recommendation deadline for Distinguished Flying Cross awards for acts between September 3, 1945 and December 31, 1946

  5. Absolute cutoff for Distinguished Flying Cross awards for acts on or before July 2, 1926 (unless recommendation made by July 2, 1928)

Key directives

  • Delegate authority to award Distinguished Service Cross, Navy Cross, Air Force Cross, Coast Guard Cross to Secretary of military department concerned or Secretary of Homeland Security for Coast Guard
  • Delegate authority to award Distinguished Service Medal to same officials
  • Delegate authority to award Silver Star Medal to same officials
  • Delegate authority to award Legion of Merit without degree to same officials; Secretary of Defense with State Department concurrence may award Legion of Merit with degrees to foreign military members; Chief Commander degree requires presidential approval
  • Delegate authority to award Distinguished Flying Cross with specific eligibility restrictions and time limitations
  • Delegate authority to award Soldier's Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Medal, Airman's Medal, and Coast Guard Medal
  • Require uniform regulations for Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, and Legion of Merit subject to Secretary of Defense approval
  • Supersede Executive Order 4601 of March 1, 1927 and Executive Order 9260 of October 29, 1942

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

  • Effective upon signing; supersedes EO 4601 (1927) and EO 9260 (1942)
  • Existing regulations remain in effect unless inconsistent

Near term (90d)

  • Military departments and DHS may begin prescribing updated regulations for decoration awards

Long term

  • Ongoing delegation of decoration approval authority to service secretaries
  • Potential regulatory updates to time limitations for post-9/11 Distinguished Flying Cross awards

Risks & tensions

  • Potential inconsistency in award standards across military departments despite 'so far as practicable' uniformity requirement
  • Coast Guard's dual status (Navy vs. Homeland Security) creates administrative complexity in determining appropriate approving authority
  • Retroactive award provisions (Section 6(b) for Navy and Marine Corps Medal) may create record-keeping challenges for century-old commendations
  • No explicit deadline for promulgating updated regulations creates implementation uncertainty
Executive Order 13830: Delegation of Authority To Approve Certain Military Decorations · Executive Orders