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Executive Order 13915Executive Order

Providing an Order of Succession Within the Department of the Interior

Donald J. Trump
Signed: Apr 14, 2020
Published: Apr 17, 2020
Federal Register
Standard Summary
Comprehensive overview

This Executive Order (EO 13915) establishes a formal line of succession for the Department of the Interior (DOI) in the event that both the Secretary and the Deputy Secretary are unavailable due to death, resignation, or other reasons. It specifies a clear order of who would act as Secretary, beginning with the Department’s Solicitor, followed by six Assistant Secretaries in a defined sequence. The order includes important limitations: individuals serving in acting capacities in any of the listed offices cannot use this order to become Secretary, and the President retains discretion to depart from the order under the Federal Vacancies Reform Act (FVRA). The EO also revokes the previous DOI succession order (EO 13244, 2001).

Key Points

  • 1Purpose and basis: Establishes a formal line of succession for the Secretary of the Interior in cases where both the Secretary and Deputy Secretary are unavailable, relying in part on the Federal Vacancies Reform Act.
  • 2Order of succession:
  • 3- (a) Solicitor of the Department of the Interior;
  • 4- (b) Assistant Secretary of the Interior in charge of Policy, Management, and Budget;
  • 5- (c) Assistant Secretary of the Interior in charge of Land and Minerals Management;
  • 6- (d) Assistant Secretary of the Interior in charge of Water and Science;
  • 7- (e) Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Fish and Wildlife;
  • 8- (f) Assistant Secretary of the Interior in charge of Indian Affairs;
  • 9- (g) Assistant Secretary of the Interior in charge of Insular and International Affairs.
  • 10Exceptions and restrictions:
  • 11- Someone serving in an acting capacity in any of the listed offices cannot, by virtue of that acting status, act as Secretary under this order.
  • 12- The President can depart from this order when designating an acting Secretary, as allowed by FVRA.
  • 13Revocation of prior order: Replaces EO 13244 (2001), removing the older succession arrangement and signaling a new framework for DOI leadership continuity.
  • 14Effective context: Aimed at ensuring uninterrupted leadership within the DOI in emergencies or vacancies.
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