ExecutiveOrdersEO
MemoMemorandumBiden · D

Presidential Memorandum

Designation of Officials of the Council on Environmental Quality To Act as Chairman

This memorandum establishes a new order of succession for the Chairman of the Council on Environmental Quality, listing specific officials who would act as Chairman in case of vacancy or incapacity. It revokes a 2019 Trump-era memorandum that had previously set the succession order.

Federal Register Open PDF 90 FR 2593

Impact dates

  1. Publication in Federal Register directed but no date specified

Key directives

  • Establish order of succession for CEQ Chairman: Chief of Staff, General Counsel, Deputy General Counsels, Senior Directors, Associate Director for NEPA
  • Prohibit acting officials from serving as Chairman under this memorandum
  • Require eligibility under Federal Vacancies Reform Act
  • Preserve Presidential discretion to depart from this memorandum
  • Revoke September 6, 2019 Presidential Memorandum
  • Direct publication in Federal Register

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

  • New succession order takes effect upon signing
  • 2019 memorandum revoked

Near term (90d)

—

Long term

  • Order of succession remains in place until superseded

Risks & tensions

  • Revocation of 2019 memo unwinds prior administration's succession structure
  • Alphabetical tie-breaker for same-day appointments could create ambiguity in rare scenarios
  • Presidential discretion clause in Section 2(c) preserves flexibility but creates uncertainty about when succession list actually applies
Presidential Memorandum: Designation of Officials of the Council on Environmental Quality To Act as Chairman · Executive Orders