Economic Empowerment of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders

This executive order establishes the President's Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders within the Department of Commerce and creates the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders as a federal interagency working group. Both entities are tasked with broadening AAPI access to economic resources and opportunities, including business development, federal procurement, workforce advancement, and trade with the Asia-Pacific region, while also advancing data collection and research on AAPI populations.

Federal Register Open PDF 84 FR 22321

Impact dates

May 13, 2021
Commission termination unless renewed by President

Key directives

Establish President's Advisory Commission on AAPI in Department of Commerce
Establish White House Initiative on AAPI as interagency working group with 26+ member agencies
Commission to provide advice on economic resource access, entrepreneurship, federal procurement, public-private partnerships, Asia-Pacific trade, educational opportunity, workforce diversity, data collection, and Pacific Island territory economic development
Department of Commerce to provide funding and administrative support for both Commission and Initiative within existing appropriations
Secretary of Commerce to designate Executive Director in consultation with Secretary of Transportation
Executive departments and agencies to assist Commission and bear own expenses

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

Establishment of Commission in Department of Commerce
Establishment of White House Initiative as interagency working group
Secretaries of Commerce and Transportation designated as Co-Chairs
Supersedes prior EO provisions on AAPI advisory committees

Near term (90d)

Secretary of Commerce to designate Executive Director in consultation with Secretary of Transportation
Department heads to designate senior officials to Initiative
Co-Chairs to convene regular Initiative meetings and establish agenda
Potential establishment of Initiative subgroups

Long term

Commission terminates May 13, 2021 unless renewed by President
Ongoing coordination of federal programs for AAPI economic access
Implementation of strategies for AAPI economic empowerment across multiple policy areas

Risks & tensions

No new appropriations authorized; all support must come from existing budgets, potentially limiting operational capacity
Commission membership and Executive Director appointment timing uncertain—left to presidential and secretarial discretion without fixed deadlines
Vague 'regular meetings' standard for Initiative; no minimum frequency specified
Workforce diversity mandate may conflict with administration's broader position on race-conscious policies in other contexts
Pacific Island territories economic analysis (sec. 2(a)(ix)) is ambitious but lacks concrete deliverables or metrics
Supersedes Obama-era EO 13515 without explicit continuity mechanism for ongoing programs