Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies
Executive orders directing the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies · 53 in Obama · 138 all terms.
Related departments
Orders
53 shown · Obama
Steps for Increased Legal and Policy Transparency Concerning the United States Use of Military Force and Related National Security Operations
This December 2016 memorandum directs national security departments and agencies to prepare a public report describing legal and policy frameworks governing U.S. military force and related national security operations, with annual updates coordinated by the NSC staff. It aims to institutionalize transparency practices developed during the Obama administration regarding counterterrorism and national security operations.
Promoting Diversity and Inclusion in the National Security Workforce
This memorandum directs national security agencies to improve diversity and inclusion through data transparency, expanded demographic tracking, professional development programs, and leadership accountability measures. It requires annual public reporting on workforce demographics and inclusion metrics, with initial reports due within 90 days.
Limiting the Use of Restrictive Housing by the Federal Government
This memorandum directs the Department of Justice to revise its regulations and policies to implement recommendations from a January 2016 DOJ report on reducing restrictive housing (solitary confinement) in federal prisons. Other federal agencies that use restrictive housing must review the report and report back on planned changes.
Promoting Economic Competitiveness While Safeguarding Privacy, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties in Domestic Use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems
This 2015 memorandum establishes privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties protections for federal use of drones (UAS) in U.S. airspace, requires agencies to review policies every 3 years, limits retention of personally identifiable information to 180 days, mandates transparency reports, and directs Commerce to launch a multi-stakeholder process for commercial drone privacy best practices.
Expanding Federal Support for Predevelopment Activities for Nonfederal Domestic Infrastructure Assets
This memorandum directs federal agencies to expand support for predevelopment activities—such as planning, feasibility studies, and environmental review—for nonfederal domestic infrastructure projects. It requires specific departments to clarify funding eligibility, develop guidance, and submit implementation plans within 60 days to encourage public-private partnerships and innovative infrastructure investment.
Modernizing Federal Leave Policies for Childbirth, Adoption, and Foster Care To Recruit and Retain Talent and Improve Productivity
This memorandum directs federal agencies to modernize leave policies for childbirth, adoption, and foster care by providing up to 240 hours of advanced sick leave and maximum permitted advanced annual leave, ensuring employees are aware of all available benefits, and expanding workplace flexibilities. It requires OPM to issue guidance within 90 days and agencies to implement changes by January 1, 2016, aiming to improve federal workforce recruitment, retention, and productivity.
Enhancing Workplace Flexibilities and Work-Life Programs
This 2014 memorandum directs federal agencies to expand workplace flexibilities and work-life programs for federal employees, including telework, alternative schedules, nursing mother accommodations, and various leave policies. It establishes specific deadlines for agencies to review and amend procedures, requires OPM to issue guidance and publish an annual Workplace Flexibility Index, and mandates agency reporting on barriers to these programs.
Enhancing Safeguards To Prevent the Undue Denial of Federal Employment Opportunities to the Unemployed and Those Facing Financial Difficulty Through No Fault of Their Own
This memorandum prohibits federal agencies from denying employment or taking adverse action against current employees solely because they are unemployed or facing financial difficulty through no fault of their own, provided they make good-faith efforts to meet obligations. It requires agencies to review hiring practices for such biases and report findings to OPM within 90 days.
Establishing a Quadrennial Energy Review
This memorandum establishes a Quadrennial Energy Review Task Force co-chaired by the OSTP and Domestic Policy Council directors to produce a comprehensive energy policy review every four years, with the first report due January 31, 2015 focusing on U.S. energy infrastructure challenges. The Task Force includes representatives from 23 agencies and is directed to engage stakeholders and recommend executive and legislative actions.
Expanding America's Leadership in Wireless Innovation
This 2013 memorandum directs federal agencies to accelerate shared access to spectrum bands below 6 GHz, creating a Spectrum Policy Team to oversee implementation. It mandates multiple reports and plans on spectrum sharing technologies, federal test facility access, agency spectrum usage assessments, and procurement efficiency guidelines, while encouraging the FCC to expedite commercial broadband deployment and develop receiver performance standards.
Advancing Pay Equality in the Federal Government and Learning From Successful Practices
This memorandum directs the Office of Personnel Management to develop a government-wide strategy within 180 days to address gender pay gaps in the federal workforce, and requires all agencies to submit within 90 days detailed analyses of their pay-setting, promotion, and caregiver-related compensation policies. It focuses on transparency, merit system principles, and identifying best practices rather than mandating immediate pay changes.
Federal Employee Pay Schedules and Rates That Are Set by Administrative Discretion
This memorandum extends through December 31, 2013, the existing freeze on federal employee pay increases that would otherwise result from administrative discretion, continuing policies established in 2010 and 2012. The action responds to congressional denial of statutory pay adjustments in the 2013 appropriations act.
Improving Availability of Relevant Executive Branch Records to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System
This memorandum directs federal agencies to improve sharing of relevant records with the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) to prevent prohibited individuals from obtaining firearms. It establishes deadlines for DOJ guidance, agency reporting, and creates a working group to coordinate implementation of the 2007 NICS Improvement Amendments Act.
Tracing of Firearms in Connection With Criminal Investigations
This memorandum directs all federal law enforcement agencies to trace every firearm recovered during criminal investigations through ATF's tracing system, with implementing deadlines over 90 days. It aims to improve investigative capabilities and aggregate intelligence on gun trafficking patterns by ensuring complete data submission.
Federal Employee Pay Schedules and Rates That Are Set by Administrative Discretion
President Obama extended a federal employee pay freeze through March 27, 2013, citing a continuing appropriations resolution. The original freeze, begun in 2010, had been scheduled to expire on December 31, 2012.
Building a 21st Century Digital Government
This memorandum directs federal agencies to implement a new 'Digital Government' strategy within 12 months, including creating public progress-reporting web pages within 90 days. The strategy aims to modernize government digital services, expand mobile accessibility, open government data through APIs, and improve customer experience across all .gov websites.
Implementing the Prison Rape Elimination Act
This memorandum directs all federal agencies operating confinement facilities to work with the Attorney General to propose rules implementing the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) within 120 days, and finalize them within 240 days of proposal. It extends PREA's zero-tolerance standards beyond DOJ facilities to all federal confinement facilities, including those run by other agencies or private contractors.
Expediting Review of Pipeline Projects From Cushing, Oklahoma, to Port Arthur, Texas, and Other Domestic Pipeline Infrastructure Projects
This memorandum directs federal agencies to expedite permitting and environmental reviews for domestic oil pipeline projects, particularly a pipeline from Cushing, Oklahoma to Port Arthur, Texas, to alleviate bottlenecks in crude oil transport. It requires agencies to coordinate reviews, avoid duplicative environmental studies by using prior work, and track projects on the Federal Infrastructure Projects Dashboard.
Driving Innovation and Creating Jobs in Rural America Through Biobased and Sustainable Product Procurement
This 2012 memorandum directs federal agencies to significantly increase procurement of biobased and sustainable products to promote rural economic development and job creation. It establishes specific targets for USDA to expand product designations by 50%, mandates reporting mechanisms, requires procurement system changes, and directs training and outreach for both federal acquisition personnel and small business suppliers.
Maximizing the Effectiveness of Federal Programs and Functions Supporting Trade and Investment
This 2012 memorandum directs the Export Promotion Cabinet and Trade Promotion Coordinating Committee to better coordinate federal trade and investment programs, improve customer service for exporters through BusinessUSA, evaluate and recommend streamlining of trade-related budgets and programs, co-locate offices and cross-train staff, and develop administrative initiatives to support business competitiveness pending congressional reorganization authority. It aims to maximize efficiency of existing resources rather than create new programs, in service of doubling exports by 2014.
Establishing the President's Global Development Council
This executive order creates a 12-member advisory council within USAID to advise the President on global development policy, promote public-private partnerships, and elevate development as a pillar of U.S. foreign policy alongside diplomacy and defense. The council includes cabinet secretaries as non-voting members and outside experts from academia, philanthropy, civil society, and private industry, with a built-in 2-year sunset clause.
Making It Easier for America's Small Businesses and America's Exporters to Access Government Services to Help Them Grow and Hire
This memorandum directs executive agencies to create BusinessUSA, a unified online platform to help small businesses and exporters navigate federal programs and services. It establishes a Steering Committee co-chaired by the Federal CIO, CTO, and Chief Performance Officer to oversee development of the platform within 90 days, with agencies required to integrate their information and services into this "No Wrong Door" system.
Government Reform for Competitiveness and Innovation
President Obama directs the Chief Performance Officer to lead a 90-day review of federal agencies and programs focused on trade and competitiveness, with recommendations to restructure and streamline government functions to reduce duplication and improve efficiency.
Enhanced Collection of Relevant Data and Statistics Relating to Women
This March 4, 2011 memorandum directs federal agencies to identify and fill gaps in data collection about women across areas including families and income, health, employment, education, and violence and crime. It specifically encourages the National Center for Health Statistics to expedite adoption of improved maternal mortality data standards, the SEC Chair to collect information on women in corporate governance positions, and the Corporation for National and Community Service to include women's public service statistics in civic engagement measurement.
Regulatory Compliance
This memorandum directs executive agencies with broad regulatory compliance responsibilities to develop plans within 120 days to make their enforcement and compliance data publicly accessible, downloadable, and searchable online. It also instructs the Federal CIO and CTO to work with agencies to publish this data on centralized platforms like Data.gov and to explore cross-agency data sharing for risk-based enforcement.
Regulatory Flexibility, Small Business, and Job Creation
This memorandum directs executive agencies and requests independent agencies to give serious consideration to reducing regulatory burdens on small businesses when initiating rulemaking with significant economic impact, including through extended compliance dates, performance standards, simplified requirements, different rules by firm size, and exemptions. Agencies must explicitly justify any decision not to provide such flexibility, and the OMB Director is directed to publish the memorandum in the Federal Register.
Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies
This memorandum directs executive department and agency heads to freeze federal employee pay schedules and rates that are set by administrative discretion for calendar years 2011-2012, supplementing a statutory pay freeze enacted by Congress. The freeze covers discretionary pay system adjustments, general increases including locality pay, and requires proportional reductions in performance-based increases.
White House Council for Community Solutions
This executive order establishes the White House Council for Community Solutions within the Corporation for National and Community Service to promote innovative community solutions and civic participation. The advisory council of up to 30 non-federal members will identify best practices, recommend cross-sector collaborations, and support the "Call To Service" campaign from the Serve America Act. The council is automatically set to terminate after two years unless renewed by the President.
Freeze on Discretionary Awards, Bonuses, and Similar Payments for Federal Political Appointees
President Obama froze discretionary cash awards, bonuses, quality step increases, and similar payments for all politically appointed federal employees from August 3, 2010 through September 30, 2011 (end of Fiscal Year 2011). The Office of Personnel Management was directed to issue implementation guidance in consultation with OMB, while a broader salary freeze for senior political appointees was proposed as requiring congressional legislation.
The Presidential POWER Initiative: Protecting Our Workers and Ensuring Reemployment
This memorandum establishes the 4-year POWER Initiative (fiscal years 2011-2014) to improve federal workplace safety and health by setting aggressive performance targets for reducing injuries and illnesses, speeding workers' compensation claims, and accelerating return-to-work for injured federal civilian employees. The Secretary of Labor is directed to lead the initiative, measure government-wide and agency-level performance, and report annually to the President.
Optimizing the Security of Biological Select Agents and Toxins in the United States
This executive order directs a risk-based overhaul of how the U.S. regulates dangerous biological agents and toxins (BSAT). It mandates creating a highest-risk "Tier 1" subset of pathogens, revising security regulations, coordinating federal oversight across multiple agencies, and establishing an advisory panel to guide implementation.
Enhancing Payment Accuracy Through a "Do Not Pay List"
This memorandum directs federal agencies to check existing eligibility databases before making payments or awards to prevent improper payments to ineligible recipients. It establishes a 'Do Not Pay List' combining multiple databases and sets deadlines for OMB to develop integration plans and guidance.
Lobbyists on Agency Boards and Commissions
This memorandum establishes as official Obama Administration policy that federally registered lobbyists may not be appointed or reappointed to federal advisory committees, boards, and commissions. It directs OMB to issue proposed implementing guidance within 90 days, following public comment before finalization.
Disposing of Unneeded Federal Real Estate Increasing Sales Proceeds, Cutting Operating Costs, and Improving Energy Efficiency
This memorandum directs federal agencies to accelerate disposal of excess real estate, consolidate data centers, and improve space utilization to achieve $3 billion in cost savings by end of FY2012. It mandates a freeze on data center expansion, requires consolidation plans within 5 years, and tasks OMB with issuing guidance within 90 days.
Extension of Benefits to Same-Sex Domestic
This memorandum directs federal agencies to extend a range of employment benefits to same-sex domestic partners of federal employees and their children, including child-care subsidies, employee assistance programs, travel benefits, and family leave, to the extent permitted by existing law. It also establishes ongoing obligations for future benefits and requires annual reporting on implementation progress.
National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling
This executive order establishes a seven-member presidential commission to investigate the causes of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and recommend reforms to prevent future offshore drilling disasters. The commission must submit a final public report within six months of its first meeting and terminates 60 days after doing so.
Improving the Federal Recruitment and Hiring Process
This 2010 memorandum directs federal agencies to overhaul civilian hiring by eliminating essay-style initial applications, allowing resumes and simple applications, adopting category rating instead of the "rule of 3," and holding managers accountable for hiring. It tasks OPM with establishing performance tracking, developing diversity plans, evaluating internship programs, and improving USAJOBS, with most agency actions due by November 1, 2010, and OPM actions due within 90 days.
President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology
This executive order establishes the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST), a 21-member advisory body composed of the President's Science Advisor and 20 nonfederal experts, to advise the President on science, technology, and innovation policy. PCAST also assumes advisory roles under the High Performance Computing Act and the 21st Century Nanotechnology Research and Development Act, and will terminate automatically after two years unless extended.
Combating Noncompliance With Recovery Act Reporting Requirements
This memorandum directs federal agencies to intensify enforcement of Recovery Act reporting requirements by prime recipients, including terminating awards, suspending and debarring noncompliant recipients, reclaiming funds, and taking punitive actions. It requires agencies to report noncompliance details to OMB and directs the OMB Director to review and update guidance within 30 days.
Finding And Recapturing Improper Payments
This memorandum directs federal agencies to expand use of "Payment Recapture Audits" to identify and recover improper payments to contractors and other entities. The OMB Director must issue implementation guidance within 90 days and coordinate with the Council for Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency to review agency effectiveness.
President's Advisory Council on Financial Capability
Executive Order 13530 establishes a 22-member advisory council within the Department of the Treasury to promote financial literacy and access to financial services among Americans, with particular attention to underserved populations. The council is tasked with collecting information, advising the President and Treasury Secretary, and reporting periodically on financial capability in the United States. Unless extended by the President, the council automatically terminates two years after establishment.
Implementation of the Executive Order, "Classified National Security Information"
This memorandum directs executive departments and agencies to implement a new executive order on classified national security information, setting deadlines for agencies to issue implementing regulations, requiring a review of original classification authority delegations, mandating clearance of a 400-million-page declassification backlog by end of 2013, and directing research into new declassification technologies.
Tribal Consultation
This memorandum directs all federal agency heads to develop detailed plans for implementing Executive Order 13175 on tribal consultation, with progress reports due thereafter. It mandates OMB review and a presidential report within one year to strengthen government-to-government relationships with Indian tribes.
Increasing Participation of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in Federal Programs
This executive order establishes a President's Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) housed in the Department of Education and a White House Initiative on AAPIs co-chaired by the Secretaries of Commerce and Education. The order directs federal agencies to develop plans to improve AAPI access to federal programs, increase AAPI federal workforce participation, and advance data collection and research on AAPI subpopulations.
Guidelines for Human Stem Cell Research
This memorandum directs all executive departments and agencies that conduct or fund stem cell research to adopt the NIH Guidelines for Human Stem Cell Research issued July 7, 2009. It requires these agencies to submit proposed revisions to their own stem cell research policies to OMB within 90 days for review.
Classified Information and Controlled Unclassified Information
This memorandum directs two major reviews: first, a 90-day review of Executive Order 12958 on classified national security information to recommend reforms including a National Declassification Center and measures against over-classification; second, creation of an Interagency Task Force on Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) led by the Attorney General and Secretary of Homeland Security to review procedures for sensitive but unclassified information and report recommendations within 90 days. Both initiatives aim to increase government transparency while protecting legitimate security and privacy interests.
Preemption
This memorandum establishes a policy restricting executive agencies from preempting state law through regulations unless there is explicit congressional authorization or sufficient legal basis. It directs agency heads to review regulations from the past 10 years containing preemption provisions and amend those that cannot be legally justified.
Presidential Signing Statements
This memorandum establishes principles for the use of presidential signing statements, limiting them to well-founded constitutional objections rather than policy disagreements. It directs executive agencies to seek the Attorney General's advice before relying on pre-March 9, 2009 signing statements to disregard statutory provisions.
Scientific Integrity
This March 9, 2009 memorandum directs the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy to develop within 120 days recommendations for ensuring scientific integrity across the executive branch. It establishes principles that political officials should not suppress scientific findings, that scientific information should ordinarily be public, and that science positions should be filled based on credentials rather than politics.
Notification of Employee Rights Under Federal Labor Laws
This executive order requires federal contractors and subcontractors to post notices informing employees of their rights under federal labor laws, including the National Labor Relations Act. It revokes the prior Bush administration's Executive Order 13201 and delegates rulemaking authority to the Secretary of Labor to prescribe the specific notice requirements.
Revocation of Certain Executive Orders Concerning Regulatory Planning and Review
This executive order revokes two Bush-era executive orders (13258 and 13422) that had amended the regulatory review process established under Executive Order 12866. It directs OMB and agency heads to promptly rescind implementing rules and policies tied to the revoked orders. The action restores the pre-2002 framework for regulatory planning and review.
Freedom of Information Act
This memorandum directs executive agencies to adopt a presumption of disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act, instructing the Attorney General to issue new FOIA guidelines and the OMB Director to update public information dissemination guidance, including through new technologies.
Transparency and Open Government
This memorandum establishes principles of transparency, participation, and collaboration as core values for the Obama Administration and directs the CTO, OMB Director, and GSA Administrator to develop within 120 days recommendations for an Open Government Directive that would instruct agencies to take specific implementing actions.