Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies
Executive orders directing the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies · 21 in Biden · 138 all terms.
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Orders
21 shown · Biden
Providing for the Closing of Executive Departments and Agencies of the Federal Government on January 9, 2025
This executive order closes all federal executive departments and agencies on January 9, 2025, as a mark of respect for former President Jimmy Carter following his death. Agency heads may exempt certain offices and employees for national security, defense, or other public needs, and the closure will be treated as a paid holiday for federal employees under existing statutes.
Providing for the Closing of Executive Departments and Agencies of the Federal Government on December 24, 2024
This executive order closes all executive departments and agencies of the Federal Government on December 24, 2024, excusing federal employees from duty, while allowing agency heads to keep essential operations open for national security, defense, or other public need. It ensures affected employees receive appropriate pay and leave treatment under existing statutes.
Modernizing United States Spectrum Policy and Establishing a National Spectrum Strategy
This memorandum directs the Department of Commerce and NTIA to modernize U.S. spectrum policy by establishing an Interagency Spectrum Advisory Council, developing a National Spectrum Strategy by December 31, 2023, and creating an Implementation Plan within 120 days of Strategy submission. It revokes a 2018 Trump-era spectrum memorandum and establishes new coordination requirements between NTIA, FCC, and federal agencies on spectrum allocation and management decisions.
Restoring Healthy and Abundant Salmon, Steelhead, and Other Native Fish Populations in the Columbia River Basin
This memorandum directs federal agencies to prioritize restoring salmon, steelhead, and other native fish populations in the Columbia River Basin, honoring tribal treaty rights and balancing energy, agriculture, and environmental needs. It requires agency program reviews, budget assessments, and development of an intergovernmental partnership with states and tribal nations within specified timeframes.
Certification Regarding Disclosure of Information in Certain Records Related to the Assassination of President John F. Kennedy
President Biden issued the final required certification under the 1992 JFK Assassination Records Collection Act, authorizing continued withholding of a small number of redacted records where release would harm military defense, intelligence, law enforcement, or foreign relations. All other previously withheld information not covered by this certification must be released by June 30, 2023, and the National Declassification Center must continue using agency Transparency Plans for future phased disclosures as harms dissipate.
Moving Beyond COVID-19 Vaccination Requirements for Federal Workers
This executive order revokes the federal COVID-19 vaccination requirements for federal employees (EO 14043) and federal contractors (EO 14042), effective May 12, 2023. Agencies must stop enforcing and rescind policies premised on those earlier orders.
Modernizing Regulatory Review
This executive order updates the framework for federal regulatory review by raising the economic threshold for "significant regulatory actions" from $100 million to $200 million, requiring regulatory analysis to consider distributive impacts and equity, expanding public participation requirements to include underserved communities, and mandating OMB revise its key cost-benefit analysis guidance (Circular A-4) within one year.
Supporting Access to Leave for Federal Employees
This memorandum directs federal agencies to expand access to unpaid leave for employees, particularly during their first year of service, for bonding with new children, caregiving, serious health conditions, military family needs, and bereavement. It also requires OPM to recommend within 180 days how to provide paid or unpaid leave for employees seeking safety from domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking.
Certifications Regarding Disclosure of Information in Certain Records Related to the Assassination of President John F. Kennedy
This memorandum certifies continued postponement of some JFK assassination records while ordering release of others. It sets a June 30, 2023 deadline for temporary withholding of certain redacted records, requires review completion by May 1, 2023, and mandates release of non-postponed information by December 15, 2022.
Promoting Accountability for Conflict-Related Sexual Violence
This memorandum directs federal agencies to use existing sanctions, visa restrictions, security assistance, and diplomatic tools to promote accountability for conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) worldwide. It establishes that CRSV may constitute 'serious human rights abuse' under Executive Order 13818 (Global Magnitsky) and other sanctions programs, and directs the Secretaries of State and Treasury, Attorney General, and DNI to strengthen information collection and target perpetrators.
Addressing the Long-Term Effects of COVID-19
This memorandum directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to coordinate a government-wide response to long COVID, requiring a public report and a National Research Action Plan within 120 days. It mandates interagency collaboration to address health services, research, and disparities for those affected by long-term COVID-19 effects, including mental health and substance use impacts.
Temporary Certification Regarding Disclosure of Information in Certain Records Related to the Assassination of President John F. Kennedy
This memorandum temporarily certifies continued withholding of JFK assassination records until December 15, 2022, while directing an intensive 1-year review to maximize transparency. It mandates interim releases, requires agencies to justify any continued redactions with unclassified explanations, and orders NARA to digitize and publish its entire collection online.
White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity Through Historically Black Colleges and Universities
This executive order establishes a new White House Initiative within the Department of Education to advance educational equity and economic opportunity for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). It creates a new President's Board of Advisors on HBCUs, mandates annual agency plans from federal agencies on HBCU participation in federal programs, and establishes an interagency working group to coordinate government-wide efforts.
Protecting Americans' Sensitive Data From Foreign Adversaries
This executive order revokes Trump-era bans on TikTok, WeChat, and other Chinese apps (EOs 13942, 13943, 13971) and replaces them with a broader, evidence-based framework for evaluating risks from foreign adversary-connected software applications. It directs the Commerce Secretary to produce two reports with recommendations for protecting Americans' sensitive data and addressing risks from connected software applications.
Revocation of Certain Presidential Actions and Technical Amendment
This executive order revokes six Trump-era executive orders concerning online censorship, monument protection, foreign aid branding, and regulatory reform. It also formally codifies the elimination of Schedule F in the federal civil service through a technical amendment to Civil Service Rule VI, updating 5 CFR 6.2 and 6.4 to remove Schedule F from the excepted service schedules.
Revocation of Certain Presidential Actions
This executive order revokes seven Trump-era executive orders and memoranda covering financial regulation, poverty programs, labor-management relations, regulatory relief, federal funding to cities, federal architecture, and agency rulemaking accountability. It directs OMB and agency heads to rescind implementing rules and abolish related entities as appropriate under law.
Revocation of Executive Order 13801
This executive order revokes Executive Order 13801 (2017), which had established a task force and framework to expand industry-recognized apprenticeship programs. It directs agencies to rescind implementing rules and abolish related entities, while preserving compliance with the Administrative Procedure Act and other applicable law.
Restoring Trust in Government Through Scientific Integrity and Evidence-Based Policymaking
This memorandum directs federal agencies to strengthen scientific integrity policies, prevent political interference in research, and ensure evidence-based policymaking. It creates a Task Force to review existing policies, mandates new agency scientific integrity officials, requires updates to inconsistent materials from the prior administration, and directs OMB to improve evidence-building plans.
President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology
This executive order re-establishes the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST), an external advisory body of up to 26 members to counsel the President on science, technology, and innovation policy. It replaces a Trump-era version and assigns administrative support to the Department of Energy with a two-year sunset unless extended.
Condemning and Combating Racism, Xenophobia, and Intolerance Against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the United States
This memorandum condemns racism and xenophobia against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) during the COVID-19 pandemic, directing federal agencies to avoid discriminatory language in official communications. It tasks HHS with issuing cultural competency guidance, requires agencies to ensure their actions and statements don't contribute to anti-AAPI bias, and directs the Attorney General to support state/local efforts and expand hate incident data collection.
Protecting the Federal Workforce and Requiring Mask-Wearing
This executive order mandates that on-duty or on-site federal employees, contractors, and visitors wear masks and follow CDC public health guidelines in federal buildings and on federal lands. It also establishes the Safer Federal Workforce Task Force to provide ongoing guidance on COVID-19 workplace safety and requires federal agencies to report on their implementation progress.